Carrot and Spinach recall !!!!! 8-30-07

[Lisa B]

Please check the STATES involved:

California firm announces carrot recall

Carrots sold at King Soopers, Ralphs, Publix and Trader Joe's in 12 states are affected by potential contamination with Shigella bacteria.

August 23 2007: 4:08 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Los Angeles Salad Company is recalling its baby carrots because of potential contamination with the bacteria Shigella, said the Food and Drug Administration Thursday.

The company is recalled its "Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots" with a Sell By Date up to and including August 16, 2007. The date is printed on the back of the packages.

The product was sold under two different labels. The first is "Los Angeles Salad Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots" distributed by King Soopers in Colorado; Ralphs in California; and Publix in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina and Florida. These were sold in plastic bags in 7 and 8 oz. sizes, with Sell By Dates up to August 16, 2007.

The second label was "Trader Joe's Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots" distributed by Trader Joe's in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington in 7 oz. plastic bags with Sell By Dates up to August 8, 2007.

Infection by the bacteria Shigella can cause diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting, with the illness usually lasting from four to 14 days. Infections can be passed from person to person.

The recall was launched after it was discovered that some carrots sold in Canada were contaminated with the bacteria, causing four reported cases of illness between August 4 and 6, 2007. No one was hospitalized and all have fully recovered.


An investigation has not yet revealed the cause of the contamination.




Spinach Recalled Over Salmonella
August 29, 2007
No Immediate Reports Of Illness Linked To Tainted Food

WASHINGTON -- 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.