Spinach Tainted With Salmonella Recalled

(AP)  A California produce company recalled bagged fresh spinach Wednesday after it tested positive for salmonella.

There were no immediate reports of illness linked to the tainted spinach, distributed by Metz Fresh LLC of King City, Calif. The recall comes nearly a year after an outbreak of another pathogen, E. coli, in fresh spinach killed three people and sickened another 200.

The recalled spinach was distributed throughout the 48 states and Canada and sold in both retail and food service packages. It covers 8,118 cases of spinach, although the company said more than 90 percent of that was on hold and would not be released.

While only a single sample from one of three packing lines tested positive for salmonella, the company said it moved to recall all the spinach packed that same day as a precaution.

The recall covers 10- and 16-ounce bags, as well as 4-pound cartons and cartons that contain four 2.5-pound bags, with the following tracking codes: 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.

Consumers with questions can contact Metz Fresh at 831-386-1018.

Last year's E. coli outbreak prompted the Food and Drug Administration to warn Americans not to eat fresh bagged spinach. It later lifted that warning after tracing the contamination to spinach processed and packed by Natural Selection Foods LLC in San Juan Bautista, Calif.

The incident prompted stricter monitoring procedures by growers and processors and stepped-up inspections by California health officials.

Salmonella sickens about 40,000 people a year in the U.S. and kills about 600. It can cause diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting. Most cases of salmonella poisoning are caused by undercooked eggs and chicken.

[csalyum]

PLEASE LETS NOT ASSUME ABOUT HOW IT WAS TAINTED BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ASSUME IT MAKES THEM LOOK LIKE AN WELL YOU KNOW. SALMONELLA bacteria is usually found in animals, including poultry, cattle and pigs, but it also can be found in humans. MAYBE EVERYONE SHOULD STOP BEING SO LAZY AND WASH THERE PRODUCE.

[tucano2]

The illegal aliens and their criminal employers control just about 100 percent of food handling from seed to restaurant plate. That being the case why is it any mystery the nation''s foods are contaminated?

[jbms888]

I find it curious that they don''t use the brand names of the companies involved in this recall. It is most relative to name the products involved and not expect consumers to look for identifying numbers. How serious can they be if product names are not revealed??

[Rontimcoe]

Don''t you know that most E.coli and salmonella cantaminated crops come from these low life, border jumping, illegal farm workers who URINATE and DEFECATE in the fields that they are picking crops in ?

But of course we should welcome them with open arms and make believe that they are better than Americans would be at their jobs.
Of course this has nothing to do with the fact that they will work for 5 cents per hour.
No American would want these jobs even though they would probably have to pay Americans about $7.50 per hour. Americans most likely, would rather want to watch their children starve than take jobs like these.

[aaabee-2009]

It works for me!
Posted by USAyesterday at 08:59 AM : Aug 30, 2007

LOL, wonder if my boss will give me 2 hours off each day to tend my garden.

The US has a 3-week supply of food across this country, 3 weeks before the supermarkets run out of stock if national, regional, and local distribution networks shut down for any reason, say a full scale national disaster.

The population of New York, one city of the US is 8,213,839. One person could reasonably subsist off a 1/2 acre of land, barring any disruptions to crop growth. Where are 8 million people in NY going to each find their half acre, let alone the other major US urban population centers?

People go where the work is, usually that is cities, or the suburbs around cities. Farming gets you food but only larger-scale farming can bring in enough profit to pay for mortgages, cars, and cable. Plus, climate and the time it takes to actually grow stuff, having the knowledge to grow a variety of foodstuffs, how to put them up, and how to cook stuff that doesn''t come from a can is a whole other set of problems.

Growing your own for most folks really isn''t an option. We have to trust those that grow food for us. Sometimes, they get it wrong and someone dies, but then we also live with polluted water, polluted air, worn-out soil, stripped and over-developed lands. That is man for you.

[valeriesokc]

I thought the Ecoli outbreak was due to wild hogs in the area. I hate to disrupt immigrant bashing. I know how popular that is. Does anyone every get angry with corporations that pay hard workers less than minimum wage, don''t pay into our social security system and skirt active workers'' compensation laws?

Valerie S. OKC

[feedback3-2009]

I agree completely with "CarlyLaine". I also think auto workers are responsible for car accidents and the CBS comment board is responsible for stupid people.

[usayesterday]

It''''s not safe to eat anything anymore...
Posted by thatgirl702 at 05:27 AM : Aug 30, 2007
............

...anything that is not grown in your own garden!

At least there, the only person who controls your garden is you!

Perhaps it''s time for a "home grown" renaissance where people grow their own fruits and vegetables. It would encourage more people to appreciate and eat the foods that nature intended us to have!

It works for me!

[usayesterday]

Here''s the example of how "less government" isn''t always better government.

But of course, the cries from the wealthy Neo-Cons would have you thinking that only tax cuts and government program cuts are good for everyone!

How many of these Neo-Cons'' children died recently due to lack of food safety inspections?...

...probably not enough of them to get their parents to rethink their priorities for this country.

[dollybaird]

It''s such a shame that you can''t eat anything anymore without wondering is it safe!!

Why haven''t the inspections gotten stiffer and huge penalty''s applied for violations, you people say it''s not the immigrant workers, well I feel its ANY workers in the field, we never had this 10-20 years ago, gee I wonder why?

I am especially affected by all these outbreaks, my husband suffers from Lupus and has no immune system, he has already had a case of Listeria that was in turkey cold cuts and it was worse than being in kidney failure, how many deaths before something is done!!