Seattle’s Espi’s Sausage and Tocino Co. is recalling more than 2,000 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken and pork hot dog products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The frozen ready-to-eat chicken and pork hot dogs were produced on May 19, 2021. They have a sell-by date of May 19, 2022.

“FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” according to the recall notice.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 12-oz vacuum-packed plastic packages containing “Argentina MIGHTY MEATY CHICKEN AND PORK HOTDOG JUMBO” and SELL BY 051922.

The products subject to recall have the establishment number “EST. P-17524” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a distributor in California and further distributed to retail locations.

The possible contamination was discovered by FSIS during an assessment of the establishment’s sampling records that indicated the firm received confirmation from their third-party lab that a product contact surface had returned positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions related to the consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for the food poisoning symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

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.

FSIS advises those at increased risk of foodborne illness to reheat hot dogs to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot before eating, due to the threat of listeriosis. The only way to confirm that hot dogs are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,

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