WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2002– Forest Pork Store Inc., a Ridgewood N.Y.
establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,800 pounds of
ready-to-eat semi-dry sausage 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:
- “KRAMER BRAND SAUSAGE”
- “TOURISTENWURST, GERMAN BRAND-MADE IN U.S.A.”
- “HUNGARIAN SAUSAGE MADE IN USA”
- “TV STICKS SMOKED SAUSAGE”
- “PLOCKWURST SMOKED SAUSAGE”
- “FOREST’S CERVELAT”
Each product is packed in various
sized natural and/or artificial casings. Each package bears a sticker with
the code number “018.” Also on the package is the establishment code "EST.
4573," which is located inside the USDA seal of inspection.
These products were produced on Jan.
18 and distributed to retail and wholesale establishments in New York.
“We urge consumers to check their
refrigerators and freezers,” said Margaret O’K. Glavin, acting FSIS
administrator. “If they find any of the products listed above, consumers
should not eat them, but return them 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.
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 –
infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic disease, with HIV
infection, or taking chemotherapy. 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 John Schiefele, company treasurer, at (718) 497-2853.
Media with questions about the recall may contact Walter Kump, company
secretary, at (718) 497-2853.
Consumers with 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.
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