Food Poisoning Health Center

Salmonella Spurs New Spinach Recall

Aug. 29, 2007 -- The California-based company Metz Fresh is voluntarily recalling certain bags of its fresh spinach after finding salmonella in a batch of spinach during the company's routine testing.

Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps in people. Most people recover from salmonella infection within four to seven days without treatment. However, children, elders, and people with weak immune systems are more likely to die or become seriously ill due to salmonella infection.

No illnesses or problems related to Metz Fresh bagged spinach have been reported, states a Metz Fresh news release.

Even so, the company advises people with the recalled bagged spinach to throw the spinach out or return it to the store for a refund, and to call (831) 386-1018 for more information on the recall.

Metz Fresh Bagged Spinach Recall

The recalled spinach is distributed under the "Metz Fresh" label. The company is recalling 10-ounce and 16-ounce bags as well as certain cartons of bagged spinach distributed to food service companies.

The recall only includes Metz Fresh bagged spinach that bears the tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314, which were distributed in the continental U.S. and Canada.

Metz Fresh detected salmonella during independent lab testing that the company conducts on all of its products.

Metz Fresh says it has already tracked, located, and put holds on the vast majority of affected cartons of spinach and will keep that spinach off store shelves.

Only one of the company's three packing lines yielded the positive salmonella test. But as a precaution, Metz Fresh is recalling all spinach packed on the day of the positive salmonella test, regardless of which packing line it came from.

Metz Fresh says it's working with the FDA and California health officials to investigate the problem.

"Nothing is more important to Metz Fresh than the safety of our customers, period," says Andrew Cumming, president of Metz Fresh, in a news release.