Discovery of Listeria leads to recall of deli meat products
Discovery of contaminated roast beef from a sandwich kit in a Walmart Super Center has led to the recall of some 380,000 pounds of deli meat products from a plant in New York. The roast beef was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Georgia Department of Agriculture food scientists discovered the Listeria monocytogenes in roast beef found during a routine sampling of a sandwich kit sold in Georgia, Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin announced today.
Zemco Industries, Buffalo, New York, is recalling the deli meat products. These products were distributed nationwide to Walmart where they were further processed into sandwiches.
The products being recalled are:
25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches BLACK FOREST HAM With Natural Juices Coated with Caramel Color” with the number 17800 1300.
28.49-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches HOT HAM, HARD SALAMI, PEPPERONI, SANDWICH PEPPERS” with the number 17803 1300.
32.67-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches VIRGINIA BRAND HAM With Natural Juices, MADE IN NEW YORK, FULLY COOKED BACON, SANDWICH PICKLES, SANDWICH PEPPERS” with the number 17804 1300.
25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches ANGUS ROAST BEEF Coated with Caramel Color” with the number 17805 1300.
The packages also bear vendor number “398412808” and the USDA mark of inspection. The meat products were produced on various dates from June 18 to July 2, 2010, and have various “Use By” dates ranging from August 20 to September 10, 2010.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections to infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems such as persons with chronic diseases or taking chemotherapy for cancer.
“We discovered this contamination as part of our routine sampling program. Sampling food products on a regular basis with a scientific protocol is a very important part of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s efforts to ensure food safety,” said Commissioner Irvin.
