New Jersey Firm Recalls Various Frozen, Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due To Potential Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL FSIS-RC-042-2012 HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Congressional and Public Affairs
Catherine Cochran
(202) 720-9113

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2012 – Buona Vita, Inc., a Bridgeton, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 324,770 pounds of various frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall include:

The following items were produced on May 3, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1242”: [View Labels (PDF Only)]
10-lb. cases of Cupino “Fully Cooked Meatballs with Pork and Beef” 10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella “1/2 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella “1 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella “2 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Sapore Italiano .75 oz Baked Meatballs with Beef and Pork” 30-lb. or 10-lb cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
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 paté, 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, quesco blanco, quesco 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 items were produced on May 4, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1252”: [View Labels (PDF Only)]
10-lb. cases of Vincent Giordano “4 oz. Cooked Italian Style Meatball” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Filomena 3 oz. Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Sapore Italiano .75 oz Baked Meatballs with Beef and Pork” 30-lb. or 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef” 10-lb. cases of Dirusso’s “Fully Cooked ½oz Meatballs” 30-lb. or 10-lb. cases of Dirusso’s “1 oz Italian Style Meatballs Fully Cooked” 10-lb. cases of Dirusso’s “Fully Cooked Mini Meatballs”
The following items were produced on May 7, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1282”: [View Labels (PDF Only)]
30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “3 oz Cooked Dinner Loaf Made with Chicken and Beef” 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Dinner Loaf Made with Chicken and Beef” 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “3oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Pattie Made with Chicken and Beef” 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “3 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Patty Made with Chicken and Beef” 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “4 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Made with Chicken and Beef” 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “4oz Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added” 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “3oz Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added” 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added”
The following items were produced on May 8, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1292”: [View Labels (PDF Only)]
30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added” 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Dinner Loaf LS Made with Chicken and Beef” 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride “Cooked Breakfast Patty Made with Chicken and Beef” 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand “Cooked Breakfast Patty Made with Chicken and Beef” 10-lb. cases of Whitsons Food Service “½ oz. Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef” 10-lb. cases of M&R Frosted Food Co. “.5oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef” 10-lb. cases of M&R Frosted Food Co. “1 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto 2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef”
The following items were produced on May 9, 2012 and can be identified by the case code “1302”: [View Labels (PDF Only)]
10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buon Gusto 1 oz Baked Turkey Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Orefresco “1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Bullpen “1.0 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Mamma Mia’s 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Napoli “1 oz. Traditional Style Cooked Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Whorle’s “1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buonamici “1oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Mamma Cacciatore 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Filomena 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Napoli “2 oz Traditional Style Cooked Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Bullpen “1.5 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Napoli “1/2 oz Traditional Style Cooked Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Mamma Cacciatore 2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Bullpen “2.0 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Whorle’s “.5 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “½ oz. Mamma Cacciatore Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Bullpen “.5oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Filomena 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Filomena .5oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs” 30-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Mamma Cacciatore ½ oz Baked Beef and Chicken Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Monabella “.5 oz. Primo Baked Beef and Pork Meatballs” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Sapore Italiano .5oz Baked Meatballs w/ Beef and Pork” 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. “Buona Vita’s .65 oz Baked Gourmet Meatballs with Pork and Beef”
The packages bear the establishment number “P-954” or “Est. 954” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were sold to distribution facilities nationwide. When available, the retail distribution list will be posted on FSIS’ website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

The problem was discovered through microbiological testing by FSIS and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). FSIS, ODA, and the company have not received reports of illesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should 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.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact Buona Vita, Inc. at (856) 453-7972. Consumers should request to speak to Junior Vice President of Operations, Paul Infranco, and media should request Blake Christy, General Manager.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. “Ask Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. 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.