WASHINGTON, May 19, 2000--Freybe Sausage Ltd., a Canadian meat processing
company, is voluntarily recalling approximately 400 pounds of sliced salami and ham 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: 4.4 ounce packages of Freybe "French Brand Herb Salami" with a
best before date of "OC 06;" 4.4 ounce and random weight packages of Freybe
"Hungarian Brand Salami" with a best before date of "OC 18;" and 4.4
ounce packages of Freybe "Westfalian Ham" with best before dates of "AU
09" and "AU 10." All products are marked "PRODUCT OF CANADA" and
bear Canadian establishment number 361.
The products were distributed to companies in Seattle, Wash., Houston, Texas, the San
Francisco Bay area, and the Portland, Ore., area.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we urge consumers to check their
refrigerators. If they find the recalled products, consumers should not eat them, but
return them to the point of purchase," said FSIS acting administrator Margaret
OK. Glavin.
The problem was discovered through routine testing by the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency.
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 illness associated with consumption of this product.
Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
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.
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