Two popular brands of ready-to-eat bagged salads are involved in a recall effort due to the potential that they may contain a toxic plant.

Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall on bags of 'spring mix' lettuce, sold under two popular brand names:  Dole Simply Nature Organic and Walmart Marketside.  According to details shared by Food Safety News, there is the potential for these bagged salad mixes to include 'hairy nightshade', which is a term that "may refer to several different plants, all in the nightshade family of plants".

There are a few potential issues connected to the 'hairy nightshade' plant - from increased saliva to diarrhea - even toxic levels of elements.  The plants:

"...may contain steroidal alkaloids such as solanine and have atropine-like effects on the nervous system inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.  Some nightshades also contain irritants such as saponins that cause salivation and diarrhea.  Nightshades may also accumulate toxic levels of nitrate."

Approximately 1,647 cases of the pre-mixed, ready-to-eat bagged salads are involved in the recall effort.  The Simply Nature Organic brand salads are sold in 16-ounce bags, while the Marketside brand salads are sold in 11- and 5-ounce bags. Complete details - including other lot codes and product markings are available on the Food Safety News website.

The lettuce products were originally distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee.  However, due to inter-state commerce and distribution networks, the potential exists for them to exist on store shelves in other states - including Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Customers who believe that they have the bagged spring mix lettuce products in their possession are urged not to eat them.

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