Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700

News and Information

FSIS-RC-99-61 Expanded

D'artagnan Expands Recall of Mousse Truffee for Possible Listeria Contamination

        WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 1999--D'Artagnan, Inc., a Newark, N.J., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 17,600 pounds of mousse truffee and peppercorn mousse that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today. Today's action is an expansion of the Dec. 17 recall of the pate-type specialty poultry product.

       The products being recalled today are 8-ounce packages of "D'ARTAGNAN PORK FREE MOUSSE TRUFFEE" and "D'ARTAGNAN PORK FREE PEPPERCORN MOUSSE." Each package has the number "P9678" inside the USDA seal of inspection. This recall applies to all product with a date code on the package through "Feb 28 00."

        The products were distributed nationwide, exported to Canada, and possibly through Internet and catalog sales.

        "Because of the potential of foodborne illness, we urge consumers who have purchased the suspect product not to eat it and to return it to the point of purchase," said Philip Derfler, acting administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

        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 headaches, 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.

        Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician immediately.

        FSIS conducted follow-up testing after a Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene positive Listeria monocytogenes test result -- which was done as part of an ongoing investigation of several reports of illnesses.

        Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Ariane Daguin, co-owner, D'Artagnan, Inc., tel. 1-800-327-8246, ext. 123.

        Consumers with questions about food safety may phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday through Friday, and recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

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NOTE:  Media with questions about illnesses may call Barbara Reynolds, CDC, (404) 639-7290.

Access news releases and other information on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov

For Further Information, Contact:

• Consumers: Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-800-535-4555 (voice); 1-800-256-7072 (TTY)

• Media: (202) 720-9113

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