CONTACT: LUCY ROSEN (516) 222-0236
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — MAHWAH, NJ, MAY 27, 2008 – AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, SUPREME CUTS LLC HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING 87 CASES OF OFF THE COB FRESH KERNEL CORN IN 12 OZ BAGS. THE PRODUCT MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES, AN ORGANISM WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS AND SOMETIMES FATAL INFECTIONS IN YOUNG CHILDREN, FRAIL AND ELDERLY PEOPLE, AND OTHERS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. ALTHOUGH HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS MAY EXPERIENCE ONLY SHORT-TERM SYMPTOMS SUCH AS HIGH FEVER, SEVERE HEADACHE, STIFFNESS, NAUSEA, ABDOMINAL PAIN, AND DIARRHEA, LISTERIA INFECTION CAN CAUSE MISCARRIAGES AND STILLBIRTHS IN PREGNANT WOMEN.
THE RECALLED PRODUCT COMES IN A 12 OZ CLEAR PLASTIC BAG MARKED WITH A “BEST IF USED BY” DATE OF MAY 26, 2008 AND LOT # 5343. OFF THE COB FRESH KERNEL CORN WITH OTHER LOT NUMBERS AND “BEST IF USED BY” DATES ARE NOT AFFECTED. PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS CALL FOR COOKING THIS RAW CORN PRODUCT. WHILE THOROUGH COOKING WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES CONTAMINATION, CONSUMERS ARE URGED TO DISPOSE OF THE PRODUCT TO AVOID RISKS OF UNDERCOOKING OR CONTAMINATION OF OTHER FOODS. OTHER SUPREME CUTS PRODUCTS ALSO ARE NOT AFFECTED.
THE RECALLED PRODUCT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO A SMALL NUMBER OF STORES IN NEW JERSEY AND MASSACHUSETTS. NO ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DATE. ALL RETAIL OUTLETS CARRYING THE PRODUCT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, AND THE BAGS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM STORE SHELVES.
THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINATION WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE COMPANY, DURING ITS STANDARD COMPANY TESTING PROCEDURES, FOUND A SAMPLE CONTAINING A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES. [PRODUCTION OF OFF THE COB FRESH CUT CORN HAS BEEN SUSPENDED WHILE SUPREME CUTS INVESTIGATES THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.
NO OTHER PRODUCTS FROM SUPREME CUTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. SUPREME CUTS PACKAGES EACH OF ITS PRODUCTS ON SEPARATE PRODUCTION LINES, SO NO OTHER PRODUCTS ARE AFFECTED. SUPREME CUTS IS COMMITTED TO RIGOROUS PRODUCT TESTING AND FOOD SAFETY, AND HAS A STRONG HISTORY AS A PREMIER PROCESSOR AND DISTRIBUTOR OF HIGH QUALITY PRE-CUT VEGETABLES.
ANY CONSUMERS WHO MAY STILL HAVE “OFF THE COB” WITH A “BEST IF USED BY” DATE OF MAY 26 SHOULD DISPOSE OF THE PRODUCT.
CONSUMERS WITH QUESTIONS CAN CONTACT LUCY ROSEN AT 516-222-0236.
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