WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2003– J.M. Packing, doing business as Cash & Carry
Inc., a Ponce, Puerto Rico, establishment, is voluntarily expanding a recall
to include approximately 590 pounds of fresh, ready-to-eat pork shoulder
that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced
today.
The products subject to the expanded recall are
approximately 7 lb. packages of "PORK SHOULDER, PICNIC, WATER ADDED." Each
product bears the packing date of "01-24-03" and the sell-by date of
"03-10-03." Each label also bears the establishment number "EST. 19804"
inside the USDA seal of inspection.
This is an expansion of a Jan. 28 recall of
approximately 490 pounds of fresh, ready-to-eat pork shoulder. The products
subject to the initial recall are approximately 7 lb. packages of "PORK
SHOULDER, PICNIC, WATER ADDED." Each product bears the packing date of
"01-21-03" and the sell-by date of "03-07-03." Each label also bears the
establishment number "EST. 19804" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The products were produced on Jan. 21 and 24 and
sold at the company’s retail outlet, located at 366 Calle Villa, Ponce,
Puerto Rico.
"We want consumers in Puerto Rico to be aware of
the recall because of the potential for foodborne illness," said Dr. Garry
L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "Consumers should check their refrigerators
and freezers for the recalled product and return it to the point of
purchase."
The problem was discovered through follow-up FSIS
microbiological sampling. FSIS suspended operations at J.M. Packing on Jan.
29.
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 lead to miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as
serious and sometimes fatal infections in children, seniors and those with
compromised immune systems.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an
illness should contact a physician.
Media with questions about the recall may contact
Juan Marroig Arroyo, company plant manager, at (787) 842-0212. Consumers
with questions about the recall may contact Lizette Montero, company
secretary, at (787) 842-0212.
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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