Meat Recall Announced After FDA Proposal of New Food Safety Laws

B & D Foods has issued a voluntary meat recall for 33,500 pounds of cooked meat and poultry due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The meat recall comes just weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the proposal of new food safety laws designed to help curb food contamination. The new laws would help curb the salmonella and listeria outbreaks that are occurring all to frequently over the last couple of years.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands more die from food borne illnesses. In fact, the FDA says that “One in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year. Most of them will recover without any lasting effects from their illness. For some, however, the effects can be devastating and even deadly.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the Class I recall saying the fully cooked meat and poultry were possibly cross-contaminated after the bacteria was found through microbiological testing. The FSIS says that no reports of illness have been connected to this recall

The products were sent to institutions, foodservices and one industrial customer in Ohio, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington, Montana, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon.

The products include:

• 10-lb. boxes, containing 2, 5-lb bags of “ROYAL “THE TEMPURA KING” ROYAL TEMPURA CHICKEN, Fully Cooked Tempura Chicken Breast,” bearing an identifying code of “A-4615.”
• 10-lb. boxes, containing 2, 5-lb bags of “BLINGS! CHICKEN BREAST WITH PARMESAN FLAVORING,” bearing an identifying code of “A-4844.”
• 10-lb. boxes, containing 2, 5-lb bags of “STEAKHOUSE TEMPURA SEASONED BEEF & BINDER STRIPS,” bearing an identifying code of “A-1070-10.”
• 30-lb. boxes of “KETTLE COOKED CHICKEN BREAST PIECES,” bearing an identifying code of “A-3900.”
• 30-lb. boxes of “FULLY COOKED PORK STRIPS,” bearing an identifying code of “A-3025-30.”

According to the government agency, Listeria is a bacteria that is commonly found in the water and in soil. It has up to a 70-day incubation period and can grow on foods that are stored in the refrigerator. This bacteria is killed only through pasteurization and cooking. When it contaminates food, it is generally found on ready-to-eat meats, including hot dogs and deli meats, in pates or meat spreads, raw milk and dairy products including soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, raw sprouts, and smoked seafood.

Symptoms of a listeria infection include:

• Stiff neck
• Fever
• Weakness
• Vomiting
• Possible diarrhea
• Confusion

The illness can last weeks, and is especially dangerous to individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, senior citizens, and those affected by diseases such as:

• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Alcoholism
• Cancer
• AIDS/HIV
• Autoimmune diseases
• End stage renal disease

As a Class 1 recall, the USDA has deemed the situation a health hazard, with a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death, the FSIS says on their website.

The recall notice explains that consumers with questions regarding the recall should contact the company’s Chief Administrative Office, Gary Shaw at (208) 344-1183 ext. 106. Media with questions about the recall should contact the company’s President, Tim Andersen at (208) 344-1183 ext. 101.

Related Links to this Article:

[https://www.foodsafety.gov - Listeria Poisoning]

[Idaho Firm Recalls Fully Cooked Meat and Poultry Products Due to Potential Listeria]