WASHINGTON, June 7, 2000--Schnuck Markets, Inc., an O’Fallon,
Mo., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 60 pounds of sliced ham
that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced
today.
The product subject to recall is "HICKORY PIT SMOKED HAM WITH
NATURAL JUICES" in 8 ounce packages. The packages have a sell-by date
of 06/10/00 on the label, and the labels also bear "EST. 13562"
inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The ham was produced May 31 and distributed to retail outlets in St.
Louis and Columbia, Mo., and Evansville, Ind.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we urge consumers
who have purchased the suspect products not to eat them, but to return
them to the point of purchase," said Thomas J. Billy, FSIS
administrator.
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 illness associated with consumption of
this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a
physician.
Media with questions about the recall may contact Marie McGeehan,
Schnuck Markets’communications media spokesperson, at (314) 962-0944.
Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Joanie Taylor,
Schnuck Markets’ director of consumer affairs, at (314) 994-4789.
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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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site
at http://www.fsis.usda.gov |
LISTERIA PRECAUTIONS
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. |