Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-040-2004 HEALTH RISK: HIGH
WASHINGTON, November 3, 2004 – Whole Foods Mid-Atlantic Kitchen, a Landover, Md. firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,275 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The products subject to recall are:
12 oz.”WHOLE FOODS CHICKEN POT PIE.” Each package contains a best if used by date of “11/02/04.”
10 lb. bags of “WHOLE FOODS Classic Chicken Salad.” Each bag has a use by date of “11/01/04.”
15 oz. containers of “WHOLE FOODS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, SMALL.” Each container has a sell by date of “11/04/04.”
30 oz. containers of “WHOLE FOODS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, LARGE.” Each container has a sell by date of “11/04/04.”
All products bear the establishment number “P-18768” inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The chicken pot pie and chicken noodle soup were produced on October 28, 2004. The chicken salad was produced on October 27, 2004. All products were distributed to retail stores in the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS sampling. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.
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, with HIV infection, or taking chemotherapy.
Media and consumers with questions about the recall may contact company Director of Marketing Sarah Kenney at ( 301) 984-3737, ext. 2020.
Consumers with 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.
Listeria Precautions
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHotline or visit www.fsis.usda.gov
People at risk for listeriosis and their family members or individuals preparing food for them should:
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.
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.
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.
Do not drink raw, unpasteurized milk or eat foods made from it, such as unpasteurized cheese.
Observe all expiration dates for perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat.