International Gourmet, a Springfield, Virginia is recalling approximately 70 pounds of prosciutto products that may be contaminated with <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/listeria">Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just announced. This is a Class I Recall, which means that this represents a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences, or death.
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.
This particular problem was discovered by FSIS microbiological testing of imported product resulting in a positive sample for Listeria monocytogenes. FSIS was notified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that the implicated product was also distributed to an Importer of Record and further distributed, thus resulting in this recall. FSIS has received no reports of illness as a result of consuming this product.
The following products are subject to recall: Various weight cases of “CASA ITALIA C.I. PROSCIUTTO BONELESS”
The exterior of each case bears the number “665” inside the Canadian inspection legend and the lot number “70.” A yellow sticker placed on the foil wrapped product inside the case also bears the lot number “70.” The products were distributed to retailers in the States of Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
The FSIS noted that it routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. If available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/ Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.
Questions about the recall should be directed to International Gourmet’s Purchasing Manager, Janet Sansalone, at (703) 569-4520.
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) 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.
