October 12, 2001 — WASHINGTON -? Bob?s Better Beef, Inc., a South Elgin, Ill., establishment, also doing business as Bari Food Products, is voluntarily recalling approximately 5,000 pounds of cooked beef products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The products were produced on Oct. 1 and distributed to restaurants and wholesale establishments in Cook and DuPage counties in Illinois.
The products subject to recall are:
“Boce MEAT PRODUCTS Italian Brand Seasoned Cooked Beef” packaged in 5-pound packages. This product was distributed to restaurants and wholesale establishments.
“TAYLOR ST. PIZZA WAREHOUSE INC. Italian Style Seasoned Cooked Beef” packaged in 5-pound packages. This product was distributed to restaurants.
Both of these products may be packaged in cases of various weights labeled “Bari FOOD PRODUCTS Italian Brand Seasoned Cooked Beef.” Both the cases and packages being recalled have a date code of “274” on the case or package, and the labels bear “EST. 20073” inside the USDA seal of inspection.
“Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of the recall,” said Thomas J. Billy, FSIS administrator. “Diners may wish to ask if meals made with beef products contain the recalled product.”
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis.
Listeriosis can cause high fever, sever headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems ? infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic disease, with HIV infection, or taking chemotherapy.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
Media and consumers with questions about the recall may contact Christopher Favia, company president, or Robert Evanson, company vice president, at (847) 695-7555. Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday, and recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.