WASHINGTON, Oct.
4, 2000--Leo G. Fraboni Sausage Company, a Hibbing, Minn., firm, is voluntarily
recalling approximately 240 pounds of polish sausage that may be
contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The product
subject to recall is "FRABONI'S FULLY COOKED POLISH SAUSAGE
DELITES" in 3/4-pound packages. Each package contains eight links.
The package labels bear "EST. 8997" inside the USDA seal of
inspection.
The sausage was
packaged on Sept. 26, and distributed to retail establishments within a
100 mile radius of Hibbing.
"Because of
the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of the
recall," said Thomas J. Billy, FSIS administrator. "USDA is
informing the public so consumers who may have purchased and stored the
product in their refrigerators or freezers can know to check."
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 Don Johnson, plant
manager, Leo G. Fraboni Sausage Co., at (218) 263-5074.
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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