990503 Sara Lee Hires Food Safety Expert

Chicago - Sara Lee Corp. has hired a government food safety expert in an attempt to restore consumer confidence in its packaged goods after the company's meat products were linked to several deaths late last year.

Ann Marie McNamara will become vice president of food safety and technology after formal appointment by the board of directors, the company said. She is leaving a position as director of the microbiology division of the U.S. Agriculture Department's Office of Public Health and Science.

Sara Lee issued a recall of about 15 million pounds of its meat products in December and temporarily closed its Bil Mar Foods processing plant in Zeeland, Mich. A listeriosis bacteria contamination of hot dogs and deli meats at the plant was linked to 15 deaths, six miscarriages and scores of illnesses, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While Sara Lee has defended its food safety techniques, the Chicago-based maker of Ball Park franks, Mr. Turkey meats and Coach leather goods said in a statement that it is undertaking several steps to strengthen its processing and testing procedures.

Those include testing equipment and products for possible contamination and providing more controlled environments for producing and packaging meat. The company also is contributing $1 million for food safety research at Georgetown University's Center for Food and Nutrition Policy.

Sara Lee executives warned last week that fiscal results would fall at least 3 cents a share below analysts' expectations because of the Bil Mar problems.

The company also said it anticipated spending more on marketing products affected by the recall after the Bil Mar plant reopens later this year.

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