Home > Food & Drug > Food and Drug Administration Food Recalls |
New York Firm Recalls Imported Cured Ham
|
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2002 – Boar’s Head Provision Co., Inc., a Brooklyn, N.Y., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 2,300 pounds of imported cured ham that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. The products being recalled are16-pound packages of "ITALIAN DELICACIES, KEEP REFRIGERATED, Boar’s Head Brand, Boneless, Prosciutto Di Parma." Imported from Italy, each package contains a single ham. Each package bears "I-156" inside the USDA seal of inspection. Also imprinted on each case is the foreign establishment number, "1-480L CEE." The ham was packaged on May 14-15 and distributed to stores and restaurants nationwide. "Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of the recall," said Linda Swacina, acting FSIS administrator. "Consumers should check their refrigerators for the recalled product and diners may wish to ask if meals prepared with cured ham contain this product." The problem was discovered through routine inspection. 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, sever 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 illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician. Media with questions about the recall may contact Henry Hubbard, Fleischman-Hillard, at (202) 828-8885. Consumers with questions may contact the company’s consumer hotline at (800) 352-6277. Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. # NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov |
LISTERIA PRECAUTIONS People at risk for listeriosis and their family members or individuals preparing food for them should: Reheat until steaming hot the following types of ready-to-eat foods: hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented and dry sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry products. Thoroughly reheating food can help kill any bacteria that might be present. If you cannot reheat these foods, do not eat them. Wash hands with hot, soapy water after handling these types of ready-to-eat foods. (Wash for at least 20 seconds.) Also wash cutting boards, dishes, and utensils. Thorough washing helps eliminate any bacteria that might get on your hands or other surfaces from food before it is reheated. Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined or Mexican-style cheese. You can eat hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Do not drink raw, unpasteurized milk or eat foods made from it, such as unpasteurized cheese. Observe all expiration dates for perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat. |
Home > Food & Drug > Food and Drug Administration Food Recalls |