Connecticut Firm Recalls Pork And Chicken Sausages
For Undeclared Ingredients

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2002 – De Yulio Sausage Co., a Stamford, Conn., establishment, is voluntarily recalling an undetermined amount of fresh pork and chicken sausage because it contains an undeclared ingredient, monosodium glutamate (MSG), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. In addition to MSG, some of the products may contain undeclared butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).

MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in a variety of foods prepared at home, in restaurants, and by food processors. Some persons who have eaten foods containing MSG have reported adverse reactions. BHA and BHT are antioxident additives, and they are not known to cause adverse reactions.

The products being recalled are 5-lb. boxes of:

• "De Yulio's ITALIAN SAUSAGE" Hot or Sweet;
• "De Yulio's PORK SAUSAGE;"

10-lb. boxes of:

• "GEORGIO SWEET ITALIAN SAUSAGE;"
• "GEORGIO HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE;"
• "CORDI FOODS ITALIAN SAUSAGE;"
• "DORA'S ITALIAN SAUSAGE;"
• "FOREMOST FOODS Italian Sausage;"
• "CASA BIANCA ITALIAN SAUSAGE;"
• "1980 NAPOLI FINEST QUALITY FOODS ITALIAN SAUSAGE;"
• "De Yulio's ITALIAN SAUSAGE" Hot or Sweet;

30-lb. boxes of:

• "De Yulio's ITALIAN SAUSAGE" Hot or Sweet;

and randomly weighted 1 – 1 ¼-lb packages of:

• "De Yulio's Italian Sausage Hot Patties;"
• "De Yulio's Italian Sausage Sweet Patties;"
• "De Yulio's Italian Sausage Hot;"
• "De Yulio's Italian Sausage Sweet;"
• "De Yulio’s Italian Chicken Sausage."

The products were produced prior to June 7, and were distributed to retail and institutional establishments in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Each package bears a code of "EST. 8756" or "P-8756" located on the label inside the USDA seal of inspection.

"FSIS wants consumers to be aware of the recall," said Linda M. Swacina, FSIS acting administrator. "Diners who have concerns about MSG may wish to ask if their meals contain the recalled products, and consumers may want to check their refrigerators and freezers."

The problem was discovered through routine inspection.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Patricia Oxer, De Yulio’s manager at (203) 348-2727.

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

FSIS requires that labels must be informative, truthful, and accurate.

FSIS is responsible for verifying that labels bear mandatory features and other required information in a conspicuous and legible manner.

FSIS wants to ensure that incorrectly labeled products are kept out of consumers’ hands by identifying and removing them from the marketplace as quickly and efficiently as possible.

FSIS wants consumers to be aware of the possibility of economic adulteration and have sufficient information to identify such mislabeled products and take action.