Meat products recalled by multiple US processors

The products recalled are as follows:
•    3-oz vacuum-packed packages containing ‘Southfork Sausage Mesquite Pepper Jerky’
•    3-oz vacuum-packed packages containing ‘Southfork Sausage Honey Jerky’
•    3-oz vacuum-packed packages containing ‘Southfork Sausage Mesquite Jerky’
•    3-oz vacuum-packed packages containing ‘Southfork Sausage Teriyaki Jerky’
•    3-oz vacuum-packed packages containing ‘Southfork Sausage Hot Honey Jerky’

The products being recalled can be identified with an establishment number of ‘EST M22017’ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The issue was detected during a comprehensive FSIS food safety assessment (FSA) inspection performed at the establishment.

FSIS said that there have been no confirmed adverse reactions as a result of consumption of these products and advised anybody concerned about health issues to contact a healthcare provider.

“FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers,”​ said FSIS.

Meat tamale recall​

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, Florida-based La Authentic Foods LLC recalled approximately 117,350 pounds of meat tamale products that may contain listeria monocytogenes, confirmed FSIS.

The recalled products are:
•    20-oz plastic bag packages containing four pieces of ‘Tamal En Hoja Tamale in corn husk’
•    30-oz plastic bag packages containing six pieces of ‘Tamal Cubano En Su Hoja Cuban Tamale wrapped in corn husk with diced pork’
•    20-oz plastic bag packages containing four pieces of ‘Tamales Cubanos Estilo Casero Cuban style Tamales with pork’
•    15.5-lb box packages containing 50 pieces of ‘Tamales wrapped in corn husk’
•    15.5lb box packages containing 40 pieces of ‘Tamales Especial wrapped in corn husk’

The recalled products bear an establishment number of ‘EST 11154’ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were shipped to retail and restaurant locations in Florida.

“The problem was discovered during an FDA recall of frozen corn contaminated with listeria monocytogenes,”​ confirmed FSIS. “There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.​

“Consumption of food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant woman and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.”​

Listeriosis has the potential to cause fever, muscle aches, headaches, a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The infection can even lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn according to FSIS.

Older adults are also subject to fatal infections due to weakened immune systems. FSIS advised people in the higher-risk categories who have experienced flu-like symptoms within two months of eating contaminated food to seek medical care and to inform their health care provider about consuming the contaminated food.

Shoppers who have bought these products have been urged not to eat them but to instead throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with any food safety questions can ‘Ask Karen’, the FSIS’ 24-hour virtual representative at AskKaren.gov.