- WASHINGTON - Pilgrim's Pride
Corporation, doing business as Wampler Foods Inc., a Franconia, Pa., establishment,
is voluntarily recalling approximately 27.4 million pounds of fresh and
frozen ready-to-eat turkey and chicken products that may be contaminated
with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food
Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
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- The products were produced between May 1 and Oct. 11.
In addition, the establishment has voluntarily suspended operations.
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- The turkey and chicken products were distributed to retail
stores, restaurants and institutions nationwide.
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- "We want consumers to be aware of the recall because
of the potential for foodborne illness," said Dr. Garry L. McKee,
FSIS administrator. "Diners may also wish to ask if their meals contain
the recalled products."
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- Today's recall, an expansion of the Oct. 9 recall of
295,000 pounds of turkey and chicken products, is the result of FSIS' continuing
scientific investigation into the cause of illnesses, deaths and miscarriages
in the Northeast from Listeria monocytogenes.
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- The Oct. 9 recall was prompted by a product sample taken
by FSIS at the facility that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
The strain found in the product does not match the strain common to illness
victims. FSIS continued its investigation by taking additional product
samples, as well as a large number of environmental samples from multiple
locations in the plant.
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- Results of the product sampling from various days of
production were all negative. However, environmental sampling demonstrated
the presence in the plant of the Listeria monocytogenes strain matching
the Oct. 9 recalled product.
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- FSIS has been working continuously since early September
with other federal and state public health agencies in an attempt to discover
the source of Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in the Northeast.
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- As part of that effort, FSIS' Microbial Outbreaks and
Special Projects Branch (MOSPB) laboratory in Athens, Ga., has conducted
more than 400 tests on products that the agency regulates. The environmental
samples were analyzed at the FSIS field lab in St. Louis, Mo.
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- In addition, more than 50 scientists at FSIS' laboratories,
regional epidemiologists, consumer safety officers, compliance officers
and personnel in the field and at USDA headquarters have been dedicated
to the investigation.
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- While the investigation into Listeria monocytogenes illnesses
continues, Dr. McKee commended the agencies that have participated thus
far in the effort, saying that their cooperation has helped FSIS greatly.
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- "While I am very proud of our scientists and investigators
for their skill and dogged determination, I am also heartened by the degree
of cooperation FSIS has received from other public health agencies,"
Dr. McKee said. "This investigation can be held up as a model for
how agencies should act in concert with one another to protect public health."
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- 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, HIV infection, or taking chemotherapy.
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- Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
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- Consumers with questions about the recall may contact
the company's consumer information recall hotline at (877) 260-7110. Media
with questions about the recall may contact Ray Atkinson, public relations
manager, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, at (540) 896-0406.
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- 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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- The brand names of the recalled products are attached.
All of the products bear the establishment code "P-1351" inside
the USDA mark of inspection unless otherwise noted.
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- LISTERIA PRECAUTIONS
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- USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
- 1-800-535-4555 or visit www.fsis.usda.gov
- People at risk for listeriosis and their family members
or individuals preparing food for them should:
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- Reheat until steaming hot the following types of ready-to-eat
foods: hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented and dry sausage,
and other deli-style meat and poultry products. Thoroughly reheating food
can help kill any bacteria that might be present. If you cannot reheat
these foods, do not eat them.
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- Wash hands with hot, soapy water after handling these
types of ready-to-eat foods. (Wash for at least 20 seconds.) Also wash
cutting boards, dishes, and utensils. Thorough washing helps eliminate
any bacteria that might get on your hands or other surfaces from food before
it is reheated.
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- Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert,
blue-veined or Mexican-style cheese. You can eat hard cheeses, processed
cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.
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- Do not drink raw, unpasteurized milk or eat foods made
from it, such as unpasteurized cheese.
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- Observe all expiration dates for perishable items that
are precooked or ready-to-eat.
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- USDA RECALL CLASSIFICATIONS
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- Class I This is a health hazard situation where there
is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious,
adverse health consequences or death.
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- Class II This is a health hazard situation where there
is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of
the product.
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- Class III This is a situation where the use of the product
will not cause adverse health consequences.
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- For Further Information Contact
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- * Consumers: Meat and Poultry Hotline,
- 1-800-535-4555 (voice); 1-800-256-7072
(TTY)
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- * Media: (202) 720-9113
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- http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/recalls/prelease/pr090-2002.htm
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