WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2002– Pennsylvania Macaroni Company Inc., a Pittsburgh,
Penn., import establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,035
pounds of ready-to-eat sausage products imported from Canada that may be
contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The products subject to recall are:
-
3 lb. packages of "Nostrano SAUCISSE ÉPICÉ
CALABRESE SPICY SAUSAGE." The packages bear the product code "L20626" and
the establishment code "CANADA 476."
-
1 lb. packages of "CALABRESE HOT (NOSTRANO)."
The products were distributed to a retail store
in Pittsburgh.
"We want consumers to be aware of the recall
because of the potential for foodborne illness," said Garry L. McKee, FSIS
administrator.
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS
microbiological sampling of imports.
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 such as
infants, seniors, persons with chronic disease, those with HIV infection or
patients undergoing chemotherapy.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an
illness should contact a physician.
Consumers and media with questions about the
recall may contact Louis Devos, purchasing manager, at (412) 919-0439.
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.
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