Listeria Contaminations Causing Multiple Recalls of Meat and Produce in the U.S. and Canada
August 7, 2012 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis Over the last few weeks, a number of companies across the U.S. and Canada have been recalling one-to-several of their meat and produce products because they either tested positive for the Listeria bacterium or because their products had ingredients from other companies that tested positive.
Graphic courtesy of kmvt.com.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a person with the bacterium “usually has fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal symptoms. In addition to fever and muscle aches, symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.”
“Pregnant women typically experience only a mild, flu-like illness. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn,” adds the CDC.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is monitoring the recalls, said that for a healthy person, the symptoms are “only short-term,” but a visit to the doctor with information about your possible exposure to the bacterium is recommended.
Among the companies testing positive for the bacterium is Enslin & Son Packing Co., which is recalling about 314 pounds of sausage product, commercially purchased as “Cedar Grove Red Hots,” in 1.5 lb. to 2 lb. packages.
The problem was discovered through a sample testing positive for the bacterium, but the products were shipped out prior to the company getting the test results back from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.