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Meats Distributed in New York Recalled Over Listeria Fears

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Dundee, NY-based Shirk Meats on Saturday recalled approximately 2,478 pounds of ready-to-eat pork and beef products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).  The recalled products were shipped to six various New York retail locations (FSIS posted a list of those retail locations here on Nov. 24, 2015).

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The problem was discovered during routine sampling. In early April 2015, this establishment underwent construction and, in May 2015, FSIS performed routine Listeria monocytogenes sampling. Environmental, product-contact surface and ready-to-eat (RTE) products that were analyzed for sampling were found to be Listeria monocytogenes-positive. Additional FSIS and establishment sampling confirmed the Listeria contamination.  FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.  The various pork and beef items were produced between April 1, 2015, and May 12, 2015. The following products are subject to recall:

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 18894” inside the USDA mark of inspection.  Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.  Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.  In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.  FSIS 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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website.

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