WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced that Patrick Cudahy, a Cudahy, Wisc.-based firm, is recalling approximately 3,590 pounds of bacon bit products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The following products are subject to recall:
- 10-pound cases of "Golden Crisp Applewood Smoked Precooked Bacon Toppings." The products bear the establishment number "EST. 28" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a printed Julian date of "8318."
- 10-pound cases of "John Morrell Applewood Smoked Precooked Bacon Toppings." The products bear the establishment number "EST. 28" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a printed Julian date of "8318."
The bacon bit products were produced Nov. 13, 2008, and distributed to restaurant and institutional establishments in California, Colorado, Florida, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. The problem was discovered through in-house testing by an establishment that received the product. So far, FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis; however, the illness can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis also can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Director of Customer Service Mike Reitz at (414) 744-2000. Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
