WASHINGTON, Sept.17, 2002 – Alfery’s Sausage Company, Inc., doing business
as Overbrook Brand Meats, a Mt. Pleasant, Pa., firm, is voluntarily
recalling approximately 185 pounds of cooked and cured beef loaf 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 5-pound
vacuum-packed bags of "Alfery’s Overbrook BRAND, COOKED CURED BEEF LOAF."
Each package bears the establishment code "Est. 9702" inside the USDA seal
of inspection. Each package also is stamped with a three-digit Julian date
code and the products subject to recall are numbered between "219 and 249."
The beef loaf was produced between Aug. 5 and
Sept. 6 and distributed to retail stores in Westmoreland County,
Pennsylvania.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness,
we want consumers to be aware of the recall," said Dr. Garry L. McKee FSIS
administrator. "Consumers should check their refrigerators and freezers for
this product and return it 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 Michael F. Alfery, company plant manager, at (724)
547-5270.
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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