Dole Food Company Statement on FDA Investigation of Packaged Fresh Spinach

Business Wire, Sept 16, 2006

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Dole Food Company, Inc. announced that it supports the voluntary recall issued today by Natural Selection Foods LLC of packaged fresh spinach that Natural Selection Foods produced and packaged with Best-If-Used-By dates from August 17 through October 1, 2006. These packages were sold under 28 different brand names, one of which was DOLE(R). Natural Selection Foods produced and packaged all spinach items under the DOLE label (with the names "Spinach," "Baby Spinach" and "Spring Mix"). Dole has no ownership or other economic interest in Natural Selection Foods.

Consumers should dispose of any DOLE-branded packaged fresh spinach products stamped with a Best-If-Used-By date of August 17 through October 1, 2006 as a precautionary measure in keeping with Dole's commitment to consumer safety.

The Natural Selection Foods recall and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement do not impact any Dole products other than DOLE Spinach, Baby Spinach and Spring Mix with Best-If-Used-By dates from August 17 through October 1, 2006. Products that do not contain spinach are not a part of the Natural Selection Foods recall.

Dole is committed to assisting the FDA, the California Department of Health Services and other regulatory agencies in their investigation and this recall by Natural Selection Foods.

We are terribly saddened by these recent events. We express our deepest sympathies to those affected.

The full text of the Food and Drug Administration statement is available on-line at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01450.html

For more information on Natural Selection Foods' statement, please visit: www.ebfarm.com

Consumers who are interested in obtaining additional information can visit Dole Food Company on-line at: www.dole.com.