Fear of Listeria monocytogenes contamination leads to recall

Alexander & Hornung, a St. Clair Shores, Michigan facility and business unit of Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc., is recalling approximately 234,391 pounds of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, says the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The products were produced on different dates. The products that can be recalled with corresponding dates are listedhere. View labels here.

The products to be recalled bear location number EST. M10125 within the USDA hallmark. These items were shipped to retail locations across the country.

The issue was discovered when the company notified FSIS that product sampling was positive Listeria monocytogenes Results.

There are no confirmed reports of side effects from the use of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that mainly affects older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, individuals outside these risk groups are affected.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumer refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products must be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recall companies are notifying their customers of the recall and that steps are being taken to ensure that the product is no longer available to consumers. If available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at:www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

LISTERIA

About Listeria Infections

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell bad, but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten a recalled product and developed symptoms of a Listeria infection should seek medical attention and inform their doctor about potential exposure to Listeria.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should check themselves for food poisoning symptoms in the coming weeks, as it can take up to 70 days after Listeria exposure for listeriosis symptoms to develop.

Symptoms of a Listeria infection may include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific lab tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children and people such as cancer patients with weakened immune systems are at particular risk of serious illness, life-threatening infections and other complications. While infected pregnant women may experience only mild flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to preterm birth, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

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