Sara Lee recalls bread

Sara Lee Corp. in Downers Grove is recalling 27 brands of whole wheat bread products because they could contain small metal pieces, the company said Friday.

A recent routine inspection of a bakery in Meridian, Miss., uncovered problems with a flour-sifting screen, company spokesman Mark Goldman said.

The machine was "not up to our specification and raised the possibility some metal could have dislodged," Goldman said.

Sara Lee runs its loaves through metal detectors before shipping to stores and none of the recalled batches set off the detectors, Goldman said.

Goldman declined to say how many loaves were being recalled.

The problem was isolated to the Meridian bakery, which continued production using bagged flour that did not require the sifting system, Goldman said.

The recall involves EarthGrains, Publix, Sara Lee Delightful, Sara Lee Hearty & Delicious and several other brands that were stamped "best if purchased by" July 25 to Aug. 7 and included the code "222."

The products were sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Stores selling the bread include Piggly Wiggly, Publix Super Markets and Wal-Mart Stores, Goldman said.

Consumers can return the bread to the store where it was purchased for a refund, the company said.

Sara Lee shares fell 18 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $16 Friday.