WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2000--Tri
City Meats, Inc., a Meridian, Idaho, firm, is voluntarily recalling
approximately 380 pounds of various ready-to-eat products 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
recall are 1- to 2-pound packages of sliced ham, turkey breast, beef, and
pastrami. The packages have no identification markings, but are
distributed in boxes, totaling a weight of 10 pounds. The box labels have
the customer's name and production code of "7/31/00." The boxes also bear
EST. 11063 or P-11063 inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The products were sliced and packaged on July 31 and
distributed to restaurants and hospitals in Idaho and Oregon.
"Because
of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of
the recall," said Thomas J. Billy, FSIS administrator. "Consumers may wish
to ask if meals purchased at restaurants or consumed in hospitals are
subject to 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. 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--infants, the frail or
elderly, and persons with chronic disease, with HIV infection, or taking
chemotherapy.
FSIS has received no reports of illness 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 Randy Hetrick, vice president, Tri City Meats, Inc., at (208)
884-2600.
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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