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COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE TAKES ACTION ON NEW SPINACH RECALL
POSITIVE TEST FOR SALMONELLA FOUND
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass said state inspectors will be notifying grocery stores about a new recall on bagged spinach and will be on the lookout for recalled products on store shelves following an announcement by Metz Fresh LLC of King City, Cal. that a positive test for Salmonella had been 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-ounce bags, as well as 4.25-pound and 4-pound 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.
The positive result was discovered 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, according to information on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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