WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2001 – Alewel’s Country
Meats, a Warrensburg, Mo., establishment, is voluntarily recalling
approximately 115 pounds of bratwurst 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 are approximately 1
lb. packages of “Grandpa A’s COUNTRY MEATS original BRATWURST WITH CHEESE.”
The packages bear the date code “DEC 10” and an establishment code “EST.
5766” located inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The products were distributed at the
establishment’s retail store, located at 911 N. Simpson Drive, Warrensburg,
Mo.
“We urge consumers to check their refrigerators
and freezers,” said Margaret O’K. Glavin, acting FSIS administrator. “If
they find any of the products listed above, consumers should not eat them,
but return them to the point of purchase.”
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 illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an
illness should contact a physician.
Media and consumers with questions about the
recall may contact Randy Alewel, owner, at (660) 747-8261.
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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