December 14, 2001 — WASHINGTON — Perfect Pasta, Inc., an Addison, Ill., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 700 pounds of fresh, cooked roast 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 subject to recall are:
– 10-pound cases of ?gina FULLY COOKED ROAST BEEF With SEASONED JUICE (SLICED).? Each case contains two 5-pound bags of roast beef and a one-gallon tub of seasoned juice.
– 12-pound cases of ?Tommy?s FULLY COOKED ROAST BEEF With SEASONED JUICE (SLICED).? Each case contains four 3-pound bags of roast beef and a one-gallon tub of seasoned juice.
Each case and individual package bears the production codes ?223812? or ?241513? and the establishment code ?EST. 19829? located inside the USDA seal of inspection.
These products were produced on Nov. 27 and Dec. 3 and distributed to restaurants in Illinois.
?Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of the recall,? said Margaret O?K. Glavin, FSIS acting administrator. ?Diners may wish to ask if their meals 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, severe 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.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Louie Bucaro, president, Perfect Pasta Inc., at (630) 543-8300.
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.