Updated

Sara Lee Corp. (SLE) 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 Friday.

The company decided to recall the bread after it discovered damage to a whole-wheat flower 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 subject to recall 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 Aug. 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.

Sara Lee shares were down 6 cents at $16.12 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.