WASHINGTON, April 17, 2002 – Weber Foods Inc., an Evansville, Ind.,
establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 100 pounds of fresh
pizza 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 7 oz. packages
of "WEBER FOODS DELUXE FRENCH BREAD PIZZA." Each product label bears the
package code of "12099" and the establishment code "EST. 6919" inside the
USDA seal of inspection.
The pizza was produced on April 9 and distributed
to retail stores in Indiana and Kentucky.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness,
we want consumers to be aware of the recall," said Ronald Hicks, acting FSIS
administrator. "Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to
eat it and return it to the place 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 and media with questions about the
recall may contact Bob Weber, president, Weber Foods Inc., at (812)
867-2479.
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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