Sara Lee Says Tests May Tie Bacteria to Its Food

Sara Lee Corp., the largest U.S. processed-meat company, said tests done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may link bacteria from an outbreak of a food-borne illness to Sara Lee meat products. The tests show that the bacteria linked to the outbreak, which may have caused four deaths, are the same strain found in testing of packages of Sara Lee products that hadn’t been opened, company spokeswoman Theresa Herlevsen said. Sara Lee last month recalled products after the Centers for Disease Control said a preliminary investigation suggested meats from a Sara Lee plant in Zeeland, Mich., may have been the source of the outbreak, which involved more than 35 cases in nine states. Chicago-based Sara Lee recalled hot dogs sold under the Ball Park, Bil Mar, Bryan Bunsize and Bryan 3-lb. Club Pack brands, and meats sold under the Grillmaster, Hygrade, Mr. Turkey, Sara Lee Deli Meat and Sara Lee Home Roast brands. The company recalled products labeled with P261 for poultry and 6911 for non-poultry.