WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2001 – Bob’s Better
Beef, Inc., a South Elgin, Ill., establishment, also doing business as
Bari Food Products, is voluntarily recalling approximately 5,000 pounds of
cooked beef products that may be contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service announced today.
The products were produced on Oct. 1 and distributed to restaurants and
wholesale establishments in Cook and DuPage counties in Illinois.
The products subject to recall are:
- "Boce MEAT PRODUCTS Italian Brand Seasoned Cooked Beef"
packaged in 5-pound packages. This product was distributed to
restaurants and wholesale establishments.
- "TAYLOR ST. PIZZA WAREHOUSE INC. Italian Style Seasoned Cooked
Beef" packaged in 5-pound packages. This product was distributed
to restaurants.
Both of these products may be packaged in cases of various weights
labeled "Bari FOOD PRODUCTS Italian Brand Seasoned Cooked Beef."
Both the cases and packages being recalled have a date code of
"274" on the case or package, and the labels bear "EST.
20073" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers
to be aware of the recall," said Thomas J. Billy, FSIS administrator.
"Diners may wish to ask if meals made with beef products contain the
recalled product."
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,
sever 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.
Media and consumers with questions about the recall may contact
Christopher Favia, company president, or Robert Evanson, company vice
president, at (847) 695-7555.
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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