Ready-to-Eat Frozen Beef Sandwich Products
Class I Recall; Ready-to-eat frozen beef sandwich portions that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes; No Action Recommended.
From the information provided by USDA, a Massachusetts firm recalls ready-to-eat frozen beef sandwich portions for possible listeria contamination. The recalled product is not distributed in the State of Indiana, but product was distributed in our neighboring Illinois state. Counties bordering Illinois may receive consumer inquiries about this recalled product.
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CLASS I RECALL Congressional and Public Affairs
HEALTH RISK: HIGH Amanda Eamich (202) 720-9113
FSIS-RC-46-2008
MASSACHUSETTS FIRM RECALLS READY-TO-EAT FROZEN BEEF SANDWICH PRODUCTS FOR POSSIBLE LISTERIA CONTAMINATION
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2008 – Home Market Foods, Inc., a Norwood, Mass., firm, is recalling approximately 5,250 pounds of ready-to-eat frozen beef sandwich portions that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The following product is subject to recall:
* 3.5-ounce individually wrapped packages of “Blimpie FULLY COOKED SEASONED BEEF SHAVED STE AKS Thinly Sliced with Onions.” Each label bear the establishment number “EST. 2727” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a printed Julian date of “3198,” “3228” or “3238,” on the products available for consumer purchase.
The ready-to-eat frozen beef portions were produced on Nov. 14, 17, 18 and 20, 2008, and distributed to retail institutions in the Atlanta metropolitan area, California, Florida, Illinois and New York.
The problem was discovered through company testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.
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 miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Customer Relations Manager Deborah Schoeller at (781) 948-1585. Media with questions about the recall should contact company President Wes Atamian at (781) 948-1502.
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
