WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2002– JM Packing, a Ponce, Puerto Rico, establishment,
is voluntarily recalling approximately 6,800 pounds of cooked, ready-to-eat
pork shoulder products 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 trays of
various sizes, containing "PORK SHOULDER PICNIC WATER ADDED, PRODUCT OF
DENMARK." The package labels bear one of the following sets of codes:
- "PACKED ON 11-08-02" and "SELL BY 12-22-02,"
- "PACKED ON 11-12-02" and "SELL BY 12-26-02,"
- "PACKED ON 11-13-02" and "SELL BY 12-27-02,"
- "PACKED ON 11-14-02" and "SELL BY 12-28-02,"
- "PACKED ON 11-15-02" and "SELL BY 12-29-02,"
- "PACKED ON 11-18-02" and "SELL BY 01-02-03,"
- "PACKED ON 11-19-02" and "SELL BY 01-03-03,"
- "PACKED ON 11-20-02" and "SELL BY 01-04-03."
Each package label also bears the establishment
code "EST. 19804" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The product was distributed to retail stores and
institutions in Puerto Rico.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness,
consumers should not eat this product but return it to the point of
purchase," said Garry L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "Diners may also wish to
ask if their meal contains the recalled product."
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 children, seniors and those with compromised
immune systems.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an
illness should contact a physician.
Consumers with questions about the recall may
contact Lizette Montero, secretary, JM Packing, at (787) 842-0212. Media
with questions about the recall may contact Juan Marroig Arroyo, manager, JM
Packing, at (787) 842-0214.
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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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov |
LISTERIA PRECAUTIONS
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-800-535-4555 or visit www.fsis.usda.gov
People at risk for
listeriosis and their family members or individuals preparing food for them should:
Reheat until steaming hot the following
types of ready-to-eat foods: hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented and dry
sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry products. Thoroughly reheating food can
help kill any bacteria that might be present. If you cannot reheat these foods, do not eat
them.
Wash hands with hot, soapy water after
handling these types of ready-to-eat foods. (Wash for at least 20 seconds.) Also wash
cutting boards, dishes, and utensils. Thorough washing helps eliminate any bacteria that
might get on your hands or other surfaces from food before it is reheated.
Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie,
Camembert, blue-veined or Mexican-style cheese. You can eat hard cheeses, processed
cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.
Do not drink raw, unpasteurized milk or eat
foods made from it, such as unpasteurized cheese.
Observe all expiration dates for
perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat. |