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Bagged Spinach Recalled after Salmonella Scare

California company finds salmonella on one of its production lines

By Truman Lewis
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 29, 2007

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Metz Fresh, a King City, California-based company, has voluntarily recalled its 10 oz. and 16 oz. bags of spinach as well as certain cartons of bagged spinach after salmonella was discovered during routine testing.

The spinach bags -- all carrying the "Metz Fresh" brand -- bearing the tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314 were recalled and the company encouraged consumers to throw the spinach away or return the items to the store for a refund. Customers can call (831) 386-1018 for more information.

The FDA said it was working with Metz Fresh to determine which states received shipments of the recalled spinach.

Metz opted to institute a spinach recall on all of spinach that was bagged on the day that salmonella was discovered, although it said that salmonella was only discovered on only one of the three packing lines.

Concerns about the safety of California produce have been high since E. coli-tainted bagged spinach killed three people and sickened more than 200 last year.

This year, a widespread outbreak of salmonella from peanut butter made more than 600 people sick. The deaths of at least four elderly persons were unofficially blamed on the peanut butter. More recently, pet food products imported from China have been linked to the deaths of hundreds of animals in the United States.

Earlier this month, canned green beans were recalled after a botulism scare.

Metz said it had received no reports of illness associated with the spinach and was instituting the recall as a precaution.

According to Andrew Cumming, president of Metz Fresh, “Nothing is more important to Metz Fresh than the safety of our customers, period.”

Salmonella

Salmonella • Salmonella Outbreaks: A Recent History • Salmonella: What It Is --- • More about Food Safety

Food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses, estimated to afflict from 2 to 4 million Americans annually.

The disease is widespread in animals, especially in poultry and swine. Environmental sources of the organism include water, soil, insects, factory surfaces, kitchen surfaces, animal feces, raw meats, raw poultry, and raw seafoods, to name only a few

Acute symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, minal diarrhea, fever, and headache. Arthritic symptoms may follow 3-4 weeks after the onset of acute symptoms.

More about salmonella ...

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