Friday, March 11, 2005
Shaw–s Supermarkets issues consumer alert
PORTSMOUTH — Shaw–s Supermarkets has announced a voluntary consumer alert for its tuna salad sold at the Woodbury Avenue store because of the presence of a bacteria.
The supermarket and its supplier, Hans Kissle, announced the product was sold in the deli service area and under the Shaw–s name in self-service, 8-ounce containers. The tuna salad was sold at the Woodbury Avenue Shaw–s in Portsmouth, New Hampshire between February 28, 2005 and March 9, 2005.
The bacteria could cause meningitis (or meningoencephalitis), encephalitis, and intrauterine or cervical infections in pregnant women, which may result in spontaneous miscarriage in the second or third trimester or stillbirth. People exhibit symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration–s Web site.

There have been no illnesses reported to date.
This voluntary Consumer Alert was prompted by a routine sampling program which revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
The supermarket has temporarily ceased the distribution of the product while local and state departments of health in New Hampshire and Shaw–s continue their investigation into what caused the problem.
ìShaw–s is committed to always providing our customers with the safest and most wholesome products available and we take this Consumer Alert very seriously,– the company said in a press release.
Customers who have purchased these products should contact the Woodbury Avenue Shaw–s for a refund. Other questions related to this issue may be directed to the store manager at
For more information about Listeria, customers may also call the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA 1-888-463-6332 or log onto the Internet at http://www.fda.gov.