Metz Fresh Announces Voluntary Recall of Spinach

Metz Fresh Announces Voluntary Recall of Spinach


Contact:
Metz Fresh
831-386-1018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Salinas, CA -- August 28, 2007 -- Metz Fresh,
LLC is voluntarily recalling bagged spinach as a result of a positive
test for Salmonella found during routine company testing.

The spinach is distributed under the label Metz Fresh, in both retail
and food service packages. These include 10 and 16 oz bags as well as
4-2.5 lb. and 4 lb. cartons. The only Metz Fresh product affected is
spinach that bears the tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.
It was distributed in the continental United States and Canada.

There have been no reports of illness or problems related to this
spinach.

Salmonella is a common food borne pathogen that can cause severe
illnesses, including fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. While most
individuals recover in three to five days without medical intervention,
the infection can be life-threatening to young children, the elderly and
those with compromised immune systems. Consumers with any of these
symptoms should call their physician.

Consumers are advised to discard this product or return it to the place
of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions about the recall
should contact 831-386-1018.

"Nothing is more important to Metz Fresh than the safety of our
consumers, period," said Andrew Cumming, President of Metz Fresh. "As
soon as we learned of the presumptive positive test, we directed all
customers to hold all boxes of the spinach affected as a precaution.
Now, with this positive test confirmation, there is no question that we
would recall and destroy all spinach bearing these three codes."

The positive test came during independent lab testing Metz Fresh
conducts on all of its products. Through its labeling and numbering
system, Metz Fresh has already tracked, located and put 'holds' on the
vast majority of the cartons of spinach affected. That spinach will not
be released into the marketplace.

While the positive test came from only one sample of many on three
packing lines, Metz Fresh has, as a precaution, chosen to recall all of
the spinach from the 'field lot' packed that day on all three lines.

Metz Fresh is keeping appropriate authorities updated on the status of
the voluntary recall.