Dole recalls some bags of garden salad, classic salad for possible listeria contamination

Dole Fresh Vegetables is recalling some of its bagged salads due to possible contamination of listeria.

The salads were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. Since the product is already past its Oct. 25 "best if used by" date, it should no longer be on grocery store shelves. 

Recalled products include:

• 24 oz Dole Garden Salad (UPC code 0-71430-01136-2)
• 24 oz Marketside Classic Salad (UPC code 6-81131-32895-1)
• 12 oz Kroger Brand Garden Salad (UPC code 0-11110-91036-3)
• 12 oz Salad Classics Garden Salad (UPC code 6-88267-18443-7)

Consumers can find the UPC code at the bottom left corner of the back of the salad bags. 

► Onion recall:Onions linked to salmonella outbreak in 37 states recalled for possible contamination

As of Friday, when the recall was announced, no illnesses have been connected to any of the recalled salads. 

Dole announced the recall after discovering a garden salad sample that tested positive for listeria in a random sample test from the Department of Agriculture in Georgia.  

The bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals can suffer from short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It can also cause pregnant women to have miscarriages and stillbirths.

Consumers who have this product should throw it away, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  

Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz.