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NEWS
Louisiana Firm Recalls “Ready to Eat” Meat Products Due to Possible Contamination
August 14, 2010
Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
LDAF-RC-01-2010 HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
(225)
BATON ROUGE, August 14, 2010 – Veron Foods, LLC, a Prairieville, Louisiana, establishment, is recalling approximately 500,000 pounds of “ready to eat” sausage and hog head cheese products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Office of Animal Health and Food Safety (LDAF) announced today.
The following products are subject to recall:
All Size Packages of Veron Hot Smoked Sausage
All Size Packages of Veron Mild Smoked Sausage
All Size Packages of Martin Hot Smoked Sausage
All Size Packages of Martin Mild Smoked Sausage
All Size Packages of Veron Andouille Sausage
All Size Packages of Martin Andouille Sausage
All Size Packages of Veron Hog Head Cheese
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “LA 22” inside the LDAF mark of inspection as well as date codes of 010110 through 111310 and were distributed to retail establishments and institutions within the state of Louisiana.
The problem was discovered through a food borne illness investigation that resulted in a product sample testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, and can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Infection can spread to the nervous system, resulting in high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, confusion and convulsions.
LDAF routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that firms notify their customers (including restaurants) of a recall and that steps are taken to make certain that a suspect product is no longer available to consumers.
Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Veron Food LLC, at 225-622-3262. Media with questions about the recall may contact Neal Sheets at 225-622-3262.
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USDA Recall Classifications
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Class I
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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
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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
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This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.
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Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis
Source: USDA
Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.
Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.
Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.
Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don’t need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.
Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.
Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.
Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.
Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.