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Louisiana Firm Recalls Sausage For Possible Listeria ContaminationWASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 1999 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that Abe's Cajun Boudin, Inc., a Sulphur, La., company, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,270 pounds of smoked sausage that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product being recalled is "Abe's Cajun Smoked Sausage (Pork and Beef)." The product was packaged in one and five pound vacuum packages, and in ten pound bulk packages. The packages were distributed to retail outlets, as well as packaged in boxes containing two five-pound packages that were distributed to institutional food service programs -- such as hotels and restaurants. Each package label bears "EST 13251" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Packages distributed to retail outlets are labeled "SELL BY 12-27-99" and packages distributed to institutional food service programs are labeled with "SELL BY 11-27-99." The product was packaged on Oct. 27 and was distributed within Calcasieu Parish, La. and Houston, Texas. "Because of the potential of foodborne illness, we urge consumers who have purchased the suspect product not to eat it and to return it to the point of purchase," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, associate administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. 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 headaches, 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. At this point, FSIS has received no reports of illness associated with this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician immediately. Consumers and media with questions about the recall may call Tim LeBleu, plant manager, Abe's Cajun Boudin, Inc., at 318-527-8350. Consumers with questions about food safety may phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday through Friday, and recorded information is available 24 hours a day. # NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov |
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