Consumerist: Listeria

Recall: 286,000 lbs of Meat Used In Sandwich Wraps Contaminated With Listeria

Meg Marco — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:49:45 EDT

Gourmet Boutique, of Queens, NY is recalling 286,000 lbs of possibly contaminated meat used in sandwich wraps and other ready-to-eat products, says the USDA. This is the second recall of this type for the company. In March they recalled 7,000 lbs of meat for possible listeria contamination.

Inspectors found the listeria contaminated products during microbiological sampling in Florida, and there have been no illnesses reported. Over a dozen different products are affected by the recall and you can view a list by clicking here (PDF).

Listeria is a bacteria that causes the possibly-fatal infection "listeriosis." The USDA has classified this recall as "Class I" meaning that there is a “reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

NEW YORK FIRM RECALLS MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS
FOR POSSIBLE LISTERIA CONTAMINATION (PDF) [USDA]

Costco Recalls 10,368 Pounds Of Listeria-Contaminated Chicken

Alex Chasick — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:37:37 EDT

Costco is issuing a voluntary recall for 10,368 pounds of Discover Cuisine frozen chicken entrees under suspicion that the chicken may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause headaches, neck stiffness, and, uh, spontaneous abortions.

From Costco's recall:

Four-pack of 12-ounce packages of "Discover Cuisine ™ Red Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice." Each package bears the Canadian establishment number "Est. 302" inside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency mark of inspection as well as a "Best By" date of "12 18 08." The item number "2880" also appears by the UPC code on the package.

No illnesses have been reported yet, and according to a leading listeria litigation lawfirm (now I know what to do with my law degree!), those with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to infection. Costco has a phone number for people seeking more information: (800) 774-2678.

Washington Firm Recalls Frozen Chicken Entrées For Possible Listeria Contamination [U.S. Recall News] (Thanks to Ashley!)
(Photo: Getty)

Two Die From Listeria Infections, Tainted Milk Suspected

Meg Marco — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:35:46 EST

Massachusetts may have located the source of a a bacterial illness that killed two elderly men and made two other people sick, says the Boston Globe.

State health authorities tonight urged consumers not to drink milk produced by Whittier Farms in Shrewsbury after an investigation showed it is the likely source of a bacterial illness that killed two elderly men and made two other people sick.

The dairy company agreed to stop production and to alert its customers, who are mainly in the central part of the state. The four people who fell ill with listeriosis all live in Worcester County.

Brand names produced by the company include Whittier, Schultz, Balance Rock, Spring Brook, and Maple, according to state authorities.

Listeriosis will make you feel very ill, but is really only life-threatening to people who have underlying health problems.

State issues warning about possibly contaminated milk [Boston Globe]

Double B Foods Recalls 98,000 Pounds Of Sausages On Fears Of Listeria

Carey — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:11:56 EST

Double B Foods is recalling 98,000 pounds of their pastry-covered smoked sausage rolls called Kolaches on fears that they may be contaminated with listeria. Listeria monocytogenes is a nasty bug that can kill babies and the elderly, while leaving everyone else stricken with fever, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and other assorted abdominal pains. A full list of affected products and states, after the jump.

The Kolaches were sold in 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Double B Brand Products

Package Code
Brand/Product Name
Product Description

102907
Double B Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
103007
Double B Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
103107
Double B Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
110107
Double B Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
110207
Double B Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
110307
Double B Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
103107
Double B Reduced Sodium Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
110307
Double B Reduced Sodium Morning Sausage Roll
Chicken and Turkey Knockwurst Wrapped in Dough and Baked
110207
Double B Sausage in a Blanket
Sausage Wrapped in Dough and Baked
103007
Double B Sausage-N-Cheddar in a Blanket
Smoked Knockwurst with Cheese Sausage Baked in Dough
110107
Double B Sausage-N-Cheddar in a Blanket
Smoked Knockwurst with Cheese Sausage Baked in Dough
110207
Double B Sausage-N-Cheddar in a Blanket
Smoked Knockwurst with Cheese Sausage Baked in Dough

HEB Brand Products

Sell-By-Date
Brand/Product Name
Product Description

7/26/08
HEB Jalapeno & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
8/1/08
HEB Jalapeno & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
8/2/08
HEB Jalapeno & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
Dec. 13, 2007
HEB Sausage & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
12/20/07
HEB Sausage & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
7/30/08
HEB Sausage & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
8/1/08
HEB Sausage & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
8/6/08
HEB Sausage & Cheddar Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
11/1/2007
HEB Sausage Kolache
Smoked Sausage Baked in Dough
11/3/2007
HEB Sausage Kolache
Smoked Sausage Baked in Dough
12/16/2007
HEB Sausage Kolache
Smoked Sausage Baked in Dough
12/16/2007
HEB Sausage, Cheddar & Jalapeno Kolache
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough

Southern Heritage Brand Products and Wheeler Brand Products

Package Code
Brand/Product Name
Product Description

10/29/07
Southern Heritage Sausage & Cheddar Morning Rolls
Smoked Sausage with Cheese Baked in Dough
7302
Wheeler Smoked Sausage Kolaches
Smoked Sausage Kolaches

Benchmark Brand Products

Julian Code
Brand/Product Name
Product Description

7302
Smoky.s Sausage Roll w/ Cheddar
Sausage and Cheese

Concerned customers can call Double B foods for more information at: (866) 966-4661.

Double B Foods recalls sausage rolls in 12 states [Reuters]
SMOKED SAUSAGE ROLLS RECALLED ACROSS TWELVE STATES FOR POSSIBLE HEALTH RISK (Press Release) [Double B Foods]

Recall: Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Infected With Listeria

Carey — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 10:47:40 EST

Kraft foods is recalling all Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich chicken breast strips on fears they may be infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall applies to the following products:

•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Southwestern Seasoned
Net Wt 6oz, UPC 71871 55720
•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Grilled
Net Wt 6oz, UPC 71871 55721
•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Chicken Restaurant Style Breaded Chicken Breast Strips
Net Wt 6oz, UPC 71871 55784
•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Italian Style
Net Wt 6oz, UPC 71871 55723
•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Cuts with Rib Meat
Net Wt 6oz, UPC 71871 55722
•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Chicken Honey Roasted Chicken Breast Cuts with Rib Meat
Net Wt 6oz, UPC 71871 55725
•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Grilled, Family Size
Net Wt 12oz, UPC 44700 02306
•Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Southwestern Seasoned, Family Size
Net Wt 12oz, UPC 44700 02307

Call helpful Kraft operators with your questions at, (800) 308-1841. Don't bother them with the basics, like 'what is the chicken infected with?' To help remember nuggets like that, we put together a little jingle:

Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer chicken,
That is what I truly wish to be.
'Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer chicken,
Everyone would have Listeria monocytogenes.

— CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

Oscar Mayer ready-to-eat chicken recalled [MSNBC] (Thanks to Anthony!)
(Photo: eurleif)