R. L. Zeigler Co. Recalls Hot Dog Products For Possible Listeria Contamination

November 9, 2008

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-042-2008 HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Emily Metz

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2008 – R. L. Zeigler Co., Inc., a Selma, Ala., firm, is recalling approximately 28,610 pounds of hot dog products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis

Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don’t need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.

Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.

Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.

The following products are subject to recall: 12-ounce packages of “ZEIGLER WIENERS MADE WITH CHICKEN AND PORK, ARTIFICIALLY COLORED.” Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008″ and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 12-ounce packages of “VACUUM PACKED PAR-TI PUPS.” Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008″ and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 12-ounce packages of “ZEIGLER Original Recipe WIENERS, artificially colored.” Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008″ and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 16-ounce packages of “Zeigler Jumbo Franks.” Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 21, 2008″ and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 12-ounce packages of “Zeigler Hot Dogs.” Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008″ and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 10-pound bulk boxes of “SKINLESS WIENERS, 8 WIENERS PER LB.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 10-pound bulk boxes of “SKINLESS WIENERS, ARTIFICIALLY COLORED, 10 WIENERS PER LB.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 10-pound bulk boxes of “SKINLESS WIENERS, 10 WIENERS PER LB.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 10-pound bulk boxes of “SKINLESS WIENERS, 12 WIENERS PER LB.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The hot dog products were produced on Sept. 22, and were sent to food service institutions and retail establishments in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

The problem was discovered by the Georgia State Department of Agriculture through microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, and can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Infection can spread to the nervous system, resulting in high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, confusion and convulsions.

Media with questions about the recall should contact company President W. Lackey Stevens at (800) 255-7013. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Controller Ken Fitzgerald at (800) 326-6328.

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. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

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