Listeria Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark Law Firm : Listeria Blog

Late today (5/29), the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) came out with this:

As a precautionary measure, Mahwah, NJ- based Supreme Cuts LLC announced
that it is voluntarily recalling 87 cases of Off the Cob Fresh Kernel Corn in 12 oz bags.

 The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail and elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals may experience only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

 The recalled product comes in a 12 oz clear plastic bag marked with a "best if used by" date of May 26, 2008 and lot # 5343. Off the Cob Fresh Kernel Corn with other lot numbers and "best if used by" dates are not affected. Package instructions call for cooking this raw corn product.

While thorough cooking would be an effective control of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, consumers are urged to dispose of the product to avoid risks of undercooking or contamination of other foods.

Other Supreme Cuts products also are not affected. The recalled product was distributed to a small number of stores in New Jersey and Massachusetts. No illnesses have been reported to date. All retail outlets carrying the product have been notified, and the bags affected by the recall are believed to have been removed from store shelves.

Here's the rest from FDA.

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Last Wednesday (5/14/08), a Carson, CA company called Cecina Los Amigos produced 290 pounds of pork blood sausages.   Today (5/21/08), its being recalled because routine testing found it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service says the following product is subject to recall:  10-pound vacuum-sealed packages of “CECINA LOS AMIGOS PORK BLOOD SAUSAGE (MORONGA).” The label bears the establishment number “EST. 21653” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

While the amount is small, this is a Class 1 recall with a high health risk.

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Cheese contaminated with Listeria is back in the news.  

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin on 5/15/08 announced that his food scientists had found Listeria monocytogenes in a sample taken from Bright Water Smoked Salmon & Cheese Spread.

The product involved is in a 7-ounce package with a "BEST BUY" date of 06/06/08.  The UPC code is 1971100073.   Charlotte, N.C.-based Bright Water Seafoods produces the cheese. (See picture)

The other  recall due to Listeria involves Tennessee Aged Black Pepper Cheese.

Philadelphia, TN-based Sweetwater Valley Farm,  Inc. is recalling its Tennessee Aged Black Pepper Cheese.  The lot number is 616-361.   It comes in 5, 7, and 10-ounce bars and was sold through Sweetwater's retail store in Philadelphia, TN and a winery in Portland, TN.

Consumers returning the product are being offered replacements or refunds.  Distribution of the bad cheese began last Dec. 27 and continued through May 12.

The listeria contamination was found through routine sampling by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

No illnesses have yet been connected to either the Bright Water nor Sweetwater Valley cheeses.

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Attention jerky eaters, especially ones who have some clue about the location of Castroville, Texas.

Beef jerky "sold in quantities" on April 25, 2008 and later in Castroville, Texas by R&R Alsatian Sausage and Products may be contaminated with listeria.  The products are being recalled by the jerky maker.

Here's what the Houston Chronicle reports:

.Laboratory testing of the product done as part of a routine health services inspection detected Listeria monocytogenes in samples of the jerky.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches and sometimes diarrhea or nausea, according to a statement issued by the state health agency. Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions may occur if the infection spreads to the nervous system. The incubation period is usually from 12 hours to three weeks but can be longer.

You jerky eaters can check out the other details here.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) was a day short of a month early Saturday  since its last recall when it put out the notice that it was seeking return of 286,320 pounds of fresh and frozen meat and poultry products.

FSIS said Gourmet Boutique, L.L.C., based in Jamaica, NY, was being forced to recall the meat and poultry because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

FSIS said there was a high health risk involved in the Class I recall.  The fresh products were produced between April 19 and April 24, 2008.  The frozen meat and poultry was produced between Oct. 27, 2007 and April 23, 2008.  Gourmet Boutique distributes its products throughout the nation for both retail and service uses.

Brands involved include Jan's Fresh & Ready Buffalo Bob, Chicken Parmesan, and Homestyle Chicken Salad.  All manufactured by Gourmet Boutique.

The listeria was discovered through microbiological sampling conducted by FSIS and the Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  No illnesses have yet been connected to the recalled products.  It's a long list of products, too.  Go here  if you want to check for specific  items.

The last FSIS recall were those tasty frozen cattle heads on April 4, 2008.

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