Ohio Firm Recalls Ham Products For Possible Contamination With Non-Food Foreign Material

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2001— Ohio Packing Company, a Columbus, Ohio, establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 15,000 pounds of ham products that may be contaminated with non-food foreign material, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products being recalled are as follows:

• "Harvest GOLDEN SERVE HAM WATER ADDED HICKORY SMOKED FULLY COOKED," stamped with code date 01352 on the label
• "Kingsbury 96 ROYAL BUFFET HAM Water Added," stamped with code date 01353 on the label
• "DUTCH CREEK FOODS SMOKED BONELESS HAM WATER ADDED FULLY COOKED," stamped with code date 01354 on the label
• "Harvest HICK’RY HAM WATER ADDED FULLY COOKED BONELESS OVAL SHAPE," stamped with code date 01355 on the label
• "Harvest HICK’RY HAM WATER ADDED FULLY COOKED BONELESS OVAL SHAPE," half-ham, stamped with code date 01352 on the label
• "Harvest FULLY COOKED HOLIDAY HAM WATER ADDED," stamped with code date 01352 and 01353 on the label
• "CINCINNATI DELI STYLE HAM WATER ADDED BONELESS FULLY COOKED," stamped with code date 01352 on the label

The recalled products were produced between Dec. 17 and Dec. 21. "EST. 736" appears inside the USDA mark of inspection on the labels. The products were distributed to institutional establishments in Ohio.

"Because of the potential health hazard from consumption of these products, consumers need to be aware of this recall," said Margaret Glavin, acting FSIS administrator. "Consumers may wish to ask at places where they consume meals if the product or meal contains the recalled product."

The problem was discovered when the company’s supplier of boned fresh hams notified the company and FSIS that a tampering event had occurred at the supplier’s plant.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Carla Wilke Jones, vice president of Ohio Packing Company, at (614) 239-1600.

Consumers with other 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.