WASHINGTON, August 16, 2002– Geier’s Sausage
Kitchen, a Sarasota, Fla., establishment, is
voluntarily recalling approximately 500 pounds
of sausage 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
Aug. 6-7 and distributed to a Geier’s Sausage
Kitchen retail store and other retail
establishments and restaurants in the
Sarasota, Fla. area.
The products subject to recall
are:
- 50-pound tubs of
"GEIER’S SAUSAGE KITCHEN FRANKFURTER,"
marked with a date code of "20806." Each tub
is marked with a label that bears "EST.
17220" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
- 10-pound packages of
"GEIER’S SAUSAGE KITCHEN SKINLESS HOT DOGS."
Each package is marked with a date code of "20807" and bears
"EST. 17220" inside the
USDA seal of inspection.
- Five-pound packages of
"GEIER’S SAUSAGE KITCHEN COOKED BRATWURST."
Each package is marked with a date code of "20807" and bears
"EST. 17220" inside the
USDA seal of inspection.
- Five-pound packages of
"GEIER’S SAUSAGE KITCHEN BAUERWURST." Each
package is marked with a date code of "20807" and bears
"EST. 17220" inside the
USDA seal of inspection.
The
retail products were distributed from deli
counters in various sizes per customer order.
The products were sold in bulk and do not bear
the same labels at the point of purchase.
"Because of the potential for foodborne
illness, we want consumers to be aware of the
recall," said William J. Hudnall, acting FSIS
administrator. "Consumers that purchase these
types of sausage products should check with
their retail stores to see if the recalled
products are sold there. Diners may wish to
ask if meals made with these types of sausage
contain the recalled products."
The
problem was discovered through routine
microbiological sampling by FSIS.
Consumption of food contaminated with
Listeria monocytogenes can cause
listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal
disease. Healthy people rarely contract
listeriosis. However, 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 such as
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 Jeff Chadwick, manager, Geier’s
Sausage Kitchen, at (941) 758-8982.
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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