Sara Lee recalls bread, may have metal pieces

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sara Lee Corp is recalling bread sold under EarthGrains, Sara Lee Delightful Wheat and several other brands because the loaves may contain small pieces of metal, the company said on Friday.

The company recalled the bread after it discovered damage to a whole-wheat flour sifter during a routine inspection that indicated some metal might have made its way into the bread, Sara Lee spokesman Mark Goldman said.

The bakery is still operating using bagged whole-wheat flour that does not require sifting, Goldman said,

The bread being recalled is sold in Mississippi and Alabama, most of Arkansas, far southeastern Missouri, western Georgia, southwestern Tennessee, southeastern Louisiana and the panhandle of Florida, Sara Lee said.

The packages are stamped with "best if purchased by" dates of July 25, 2007 through August 7, 2007 and include the code "222." The bread was produced at the company's Meridian, Mississippi, bakery.

The bread should not be consumed and should be returned to the store where it was purchased for a full refund, Sara Lee said.

A list of the affected brands is available in the press release here

Sara Lee shares closed down 18 cents at $16 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Brad Dorfman)