WASHINGTON, June 20, 2001—Koch’s Turkey
Farm, a Tamaqua, Pa., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 75
pounds of cooked turkey barbecue that may be contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service announced today.
The product subject to recall is "KOCH’S TURKEY FARM TURKEY
BAR-B-Q." The product is packaged in plastic containers of 1, 2, 5,
and 10 pounds. The bottom of the container bears a date code of
"1631," and container labels bear "P-8437" inside the
USDA seal of inspection.
The turkey barbecue was produced on June 12, and distributed to fast
food/retail establishments in Tamaqua, Pa.
"Because of the potential hazard of foodborne illness from
consumption of poultry products contaminated with harmful bacteria such as
Listeria monocytogenes, I urge consumers who have purchased the
suspect product not to eat it and return it to the place of
purchase," said Thomas Billy, FSIS administrator. "Purchasers or
consumers may wish to ask if meals made with turkey barbecue contain the
recalled product."
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological
sampling.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can
cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy
people rarely contract listeriosis. Listeriosis can cause high fever,
severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause
miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal
infections in those with weak immune systems--infants, the frail or
elderly, and persons with chronic disease, with HIV infection, or taking
chemotherapy.
FSIS has received no reports of illness associated with consumption of
this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a
physician.
Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Mark Fulton, Koch’s
process manager at (570) 668-2089. Media with questions may contact Pamela
Stein, Koch’s personnel manager at (570) 668-2089.
Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat
and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline can be reached from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday, and recorded food
safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
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