WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2003– M.D. Chavez/Old Santa Fe Trail, an Albuquerque,
N.M., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 22,000 pounds of beef
jerky that may be contaminated with Salmonella, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The recall was initiated because
epidemiological case studies suggest that the recalled product may be linked
to several Salmonella illnesses in New Mexico.
The products subject to recall bear
the establishment number “EST. 13343” inside the USDA mark of inspection and
were produced between May 1 and September 26, 2003. These production dates
are also stamped on the package.
The products subject to recall are:
“GENERAL STORE, ALL NATURAL, ROUTE 66, Beef Jerky,
Peppered, Land of Enchantment.”
“GENERAL STORE, ALL NATURAL, ROUTE 66, Beef Jerky,
Green Chile, Land of Enchantment.”
“GENERAL STORE, ALL NATURAL, ROUTE 66, Beef Jerky, Red
Chile, Land of Enchantment.”
“GENERAL STORE, ALL NATURAL, ROUTE 66, Beef Jerky,
Regular, Land of Enchantment.”
These products are packaged in 1 to
8 oz. plastic bags.
“A Taste of New Mexico, Old Santa Fe Trail, BEEF
JERKY, NO PRESERVATIVES, Green Chili.”
“A Taste of New Mexico, Old Santa Fe Trail, BEEF
JERKY, NO PRESERVATIVES, Red Chili.”
“A Taste of New Mexico, Old Santa Fe Trail, BEEF
JERKY, NO PRESERVATIVES, Peppered.”
“A Taste of New Mexico, Old Santa Fe Trail, BEEF
JERKY, NO PRESERVATIVES, Original.”
These products are packaged in 1 to
16 oz. plastic bags.
The beef jerky was distributed to
retail stores and through mail orders nationwide. In addition, consumers may
have purchased these products from a vendor at the New Mexico State Fair.
Consumption of food contaminated
with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common
bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life
threatening, especially for infants, the frail or elderly and persons with
chronic disease, with HIV infection, or taking chemotherapy. The most common
manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever
within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms include chills, headache,
nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.
Media with questions about the
recall may contact Robert Bernstein, company attorney, at (505) 269-3999.
Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Angela Postlethwait,
company assistant manager, at (505) 255-7950.
Consumers with food safety questions
can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline.
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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