Dole Fresh Vegetables Announces Voluntary Recall Of Dole Packaged Salads

SALINAS, California - October 01, 2005

Dole Fresh Vegetables, a division of Dole Food Company, Inc., today announced that it is cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Minnesota and California State Departments of Health regarding an investigation of an outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7, between September 13, and September 19, in the Minneapolis/St Paul area of Minnesota.

The three varieties in question are Classic Romaine, American Blend and Greener Selection, all with a "best-if-used-by" date of September 23, 2005, and a production code beginning "B250" stamped on the package. The best-if-use-by code date can be located in the upper right hand corner of the front of the bag.

No other Dole salad products are involved.

Eric Schwartz, President, Dole Fresh Vegetables, stated: "Our over riding concern is for consumer safety. We are working with the US-FDA, the Minnesota Department of Health and the California Department of Health Services to determine the source of the contamination."

Consumers who may still have any of these packaged salads with a "best if used by date" of September 23, and a production code beginning with "B250" should dispose of the product. Consumers are reminded that products should not be consumed after the "best if used by" date.

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2004 revenues of $5.3 billion, is the world's largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen foods and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.

This release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements, which are based on management's current expectations, are generally identifiable by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "intends" and similar expressions. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein include weather-related phenomena; market responses to industry volume pressures; product and raw materials supplies and pricing; electrical power supply and pricing; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; economic crises and security risks in developing countries; international conflict; and quotas, tariffs and other governmental actions. Further information on the factors that could affect Dole's financial results is included in its SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K.