WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2002– Crofton & Sons Inc., a Tampa, Fla.,
establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,200 pounds of
ready-to-eat, fresh and frozen smoked pork 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 subject to recall are:
- 1-pound vacuum packed packages of "MILD, BEAN BROTHERS Country SMOKED
SAUSAGE." Each package bears the sell by date, "02/10/03."
- 1-pound vacuum packed packages of "HOT, BEAN BROTHERS Country SMOKED
SAUSAGE." Each package bears the sell by date, "02/10/03."
Each label bears the establishment code "EST.
9179" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The products were produced on November 11 and
distributed to retail stores in Florida.
"We want consumers to be aware of the recall so
they can check their freezers and refrigerators for these products," said
Dr. Garry L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "If consumers find the recalled
products then they should return them to the point of purchase."
Crofton & Sons Inc., notified FSIS that it was
recalling the products based on a positive test for Listeria
monocytogenes from a follow up sample collected and analyzed by the
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
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 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.
Consumers with questions about the recall may
contact David Bean, company sales manager, at (813) 685-7745. Media with
questions about the recall may contact Kevin Crofton, vice president, at
(813) 685-7745.
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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