WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2003– The Butcher Block, an Indianola, Neb., firm is
voluntarily recalling approximately 110 pounds of cooked roast beef 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 "SLICED COOKED
ROAST BEEF WITH JUICES." Each package bears the "PACK DATE" of "11-7-03."
The roast beef was produced and packaged on Nov.
7 and distributed for use at a banquet in Indianola, Neb., on Nov. 9.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an
illness should contact a physician.
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS
microbiological testing.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal
disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, 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, HIV infection or in
chemotherapy.
Media and consumers with questions about the
recall may contact Laurn Oltmer, company owner, at (308) 364-2715.
Consumers with other food safety questions can
phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHOTLINE. 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.
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