Maine Firm Recalls Ham Salad for Possible Listeria Contamination

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL FSIS-RC-012-2006 HEALTH RISK: HIGH Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113 Amanda Eamich WASHINGTON, April 5, 2006 - Town and Country Meats, a Greene, Maine, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 92 pounds of ham salad that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. Recommendations for people at risk for Listeriosis Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. 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 pate, 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, quesco blanco, quesco 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 ºF or lower and the freezer 0 ºF or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator. The following product is subject to recall: 2-pound plastic tubs of "TOWN & COUNTRY FOODS, HAM SALAD." Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 9710" inside the USDA mark of inspection, as well as the product code, "00906" or "00936." The ham salad was produced on March 31 and April 3, 2006, and was distributed to retail establishments in Maine. The problem was discovered through company microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. 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 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 weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact company Operations Manager Denis Lebel at (207) 946-5489. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (888) 674-6854. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. "Ask Karen" is the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day to answer your questions at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117212813/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/ Ask_Karen/index.asp#Question. NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117212813/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/ Label: USDA Recall Classifications Class I 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. Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product. Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

Last Modified: April 5, 2006