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SPARTAN STORES, INC. RECALLS SPARTAN BRAND AND HOME HARVEST BRAND CHUNK COLBY JACK CHEESE

NEWS RELEASE



Contact: Dan Spaulding
         616/878-8339

For Immediate Release

Spartan Stores, Inc. Recalls Spartan Brand and Home Harvest Brand Chunk Colby Jack Cheese

Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 7, 2000 -- Officials for Spartan Stores, Inc. are voluntarily recalling Spartan brand and Home Harvest brand random weight (chunk) Colby Jack cheese. There is a chance that the product could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product was sold at all Spartan retail and Spartan-supplied stores in Michigan. The action is the result of testing conducted by the Food and Drug Administration. Schreiber Foods, the supplier, notified Spartan Stores, Inc. of the possible contamination Monday, November 6, 2000.

Spartan brand

Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/14/00
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/16/00
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/21/00
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 02/09/01
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 03/18/01

Home Harvest brand

Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/02/00
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/07/00
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/08/00
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/14/00
Chunk Colby Jack - expiration date 12/21/00

The company has not received any complaints or reports of illness associated with this product. All affected products have been removed from the shelves. Spartan Stores, Inc. requests that the product not be consumed. It should be disposed of or returned to the store for a full refund.

No other Spartan Brand or Home Harvest Brand cheeses are affected. Consumers with questions can contact Spartan Stores' Consumer Connections at 800-451-8500.

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Web page created by tg 2000-NOV-07.