More than 10,000 pounds of ham sent to Kentucky and Tennessee is being recalled because officials fear it could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The meat was produced by Harper?s Country Ham on Dec. 11 and distributed to grocery stores and restaurants in the two states as well as via mail order to customers throughout the United States under the Harper?s Country Store and Wertz?s Country Store brand names.

About 10,400 pounds of ham distributed primarily to grocery stores and restaurants throughout Kentucky and Tennessee will be recalled out of fear it is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Although there have been no reports of any illnesses connected to the ham, listeria contamination was found during a routine microbiological sampling.

All products being recalled are labeled “EST 2040” inside the Agriculture Department’s seal of inspection and bear a production date code of 0346.

Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea, particularly in very young or very old people, or those with weak immune systems.

Nearly 17 million pounds of ready-to-eat turkey products were voluntarily recalled by Waco-Texas based Cargill Turkey Products earlier this month because of possible Listeria contamination.

–Jeff VanPelt