WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2002 – Principe Foods USA, Inc., a Fresno, Calif.,
import firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 510 pounds of
ready-to-eat prosciutto ham imported from Italy 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 approximately
17-pound packages of "Principe, Boneless San Daniele, PROSCIUTTO DI SAN
DANIELE, Product of Italy." Each package contains a single prosciutto ham
and bears a case code, "5125520170." Each package also bears the packing
date code, "06.08.2002."
The prosciutto was produced on May 25, 2001 and
sent to one distributor in Orlando, Fla.
"We want the public to be aware of the recall
because of the potential for foodborne illness," said Dr. Garry L. McKee,
FSIS administrator. "These products should not be eaten and returned 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. However, listeriosis
can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.
Listeriosis can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those
with weakened immune systems – such as infants, pregnant women, the frail or
elderly, 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 Alberto Minardi, company director of operations, at (559)
289-8367.
Consumers with 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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