Washington, DC: Gusto Packing, a Montgomery, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 67,113 pounds of sliced, spiral ham products due to concerns about possible food poisoning from Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The hams were shipped to wholesalers for further distribution in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, while some were exported to Canada. The following products are subject to recall:
45.5-lb. cases, with six individual sized hams each labeled "Centrella Signature, Hardwood Hickory Smoked, Spiral Sliced Ham with Natural Juices"with the case code "71292603304,"packaged on Nov. 29, 2013, having a Use or Freeze by date of "02/06/14."
45.8-lb. cases, with six individual sized hams each labeled "AMISH VALLEY, Fully Cooked, Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham"with the case code "71292645104,"packaged on Nov. 29, 2013, having a Use or Freeze by date of "02/06/14."
45.8-lb. cases, with six individual sized hams each labeled "AMISH VALLEY, Fully Cooked, Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham"with the case code "71292645104,"packaged on Nov. 30, 2013, having a Use or Freeze by date of "02/06/14."
31.6-lb. cases, with four individual sized hams each labeled "Ripple Creek Farms, Fully Cooked, Ready To Eat, Hickory Smoked, Spiral Sliced Ham"with the case code "71292603312,"packaged on Nov. 30, 2013, having a Best Before date of "2014 FE 13."
Packaging labels bear the establishment number "EST. 2516"inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The problem was discovered when Gusto Packing' internal sampling program found some of its products tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Those products were frozen and held for reconditioning. Later, Gusto Packing found that some of those ham products inadvertently shipped into commerce. The company then informed FSIS.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. 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.
