Arkansas Firm Expands Recall Of Cooked Hams For Possible Listeria Contamination

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2002 – Broadaway Ham Co., a Jonesboro, Ark. firm, is voluntarily recalling an additional 6,525 pounds of cooked boneless hams that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. Today’s action is an expansion of an Aug. 28 recall of 2,200 pounds of the cooked boneless hams. The list of states that received the recalled products was also revised.

The products subject to recall are 12-13 lb. cryovac-sealed, packages of "CROWLEY RIDGE BRAND B-B-Q SEASONED COOKED FRESH HAM." Each ham is shipped individually in a box marked with a production date of "08-08-02." Each package label also bears the establishment code "EST. 13035" inside the USDA seal of inspection.

The hams were produced July 8 – Aug. 30 and distributed to wholesale grocers for resale to delicatessens in Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi.

"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of the recall," said William J. Hudnall, acting FSIS administrator. "Consumers may wish to ask at their deli counters whether ham they have purchased is included in the recall."

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. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems – such as infants, pregnant women, the frail or elderly, persons with chronic disease, those with HIV infection, or patients undergoing chemotherapy.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Bruce Broadaway, company president, at (870) 932-6688.

Consumers with 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

LISTERIA PRECAUTIONS

People at risk for listeriosis and their family members or individuals preparing food for them should:

Reheat until steaming hot the following types of ready-to-eat foods: hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented and dry sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry products. Thoroughly reheating food can help kill any bacteria that might be present. If you cannot reheat these foods, do not eat them.

Wash hands with hot, soapy water after handling these types of ready-to-eat foods. (Wash for at least 20 seconds.) Also wash cutting boards, dishes, and utensils. Thorough washing helps eliminate any bacteria that might get on your hands or other surfaces from food before it is reheated.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined or Mexican-style cheese. You can eat hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

Do not drink raw, unpasteurized milk or eat foods made from it, such as unpasteurized cheese.

Observe all expiration dates for perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat.