Congressional and Public Affairs
Caryn Long (202) 720-9113

WASHINGTON, October 31, 2001 – R.L. Zeigler, Co., Inc., a Selma, Ala., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 189,000 pounds of luncheon meat that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following Zeigler brand products are subject to recall. Each package bears "EST. 9156S" inside the USDA seal of inspection. These products were distributed to retail and wholesale establishments in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

• "ZEIGLER sliced Black Peppered Ham with natural juices" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 2" through "SELL BY DEC 2,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Liver Cheese Wrapped in Pork Fat" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 29" through "SELL BY DEC 9,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Red Peppered Ham with natural juices" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28" through "SELL BY DEC 15,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Spiced Luncheon Loaf" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 2" through "SELL BY DEC 14,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Glazed Cooked Ham with natural juices" in 4 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 15" through "SELL BY NOV 30,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Black Peppered Ham with natural juices" in 4 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 29" through "SELL BY DEC 16,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Chopped Ham with natural juices" in 4 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 29" through "SELL BY DEC 17,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Cooked Ham with natural juices" in 4 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 29" through "SELL BY DEC 14,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Ham & Cheese Loaf" in 4 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28" through "SELL BY DEC 16,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Red Peppered Ham with natural juices" in 4 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 4" through "SELL BY DEC 13,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Bologna" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 8" through "SELL BY DEC 9,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Liver Cheese Wrapped in Pork Fat" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 27" through "SELL BY DEC 16,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Olive Loaf" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 17" through "SELL BY NOV 27,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Pickle Loaf" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 17" through "SELL BY DEC 6,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Country Brand Souse" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 27" through "SELL BY DEC 16," and
• "ZEIGLER sliced Spiced Luncheon Loaf" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 3" through "SELL BY DEC 15."

The following Zeigler brand products are subject to recall. Each package bears "EST. 9156S" inside the USDA seal of inspection. These products were distributed to retail and wholesale establishments in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee. These products were also distributed to Department of Defense commissaries in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

• "ZEIGLER sliced Chopped Ham with natural juices" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 2" through "SELL BY DEC 2,"
• "ZEIGLER sliced Cooked Ham with natural juices" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 27" through "SELL BY DEC 9," and
• "ZEIGLER sliced Country Brand Souse" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 27" through "SELL BY DEC 16."

The following Elm Hill brand products are subject to recall. Each package bears "EST. 9156S" inside the USDA seal of inspection. These products were distributed to retail and wholesale establishments in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.

• "ELM HILL BOLOGNA" in 12 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28" through "SELL BY DEC 15,"
• "ELM HILL BOLOGNA" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 3" through "SELL BY DEC 15,"
• "ELM HILL HOT SOUSE" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 27" through "SELL BY DEC 13,"
• "ELM HILL LIVER CHEESE Wrapped in Pork Fat" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 27" through "SELL BY DEC 15,"
• "ELM HILL OLIVE LOAF" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 2" through "SELL BY DEC 15,"
• "ELM HILL P&P LOAF" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 2" through "SELL BY DEC 15,"
• "ELM HILL COTTO SALAMI" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28" through "SELL BY DEC 8,"
• "ELM HILL SOUSE" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 2" through "SELL BY DEC 6," and
• "ELM HILL LUNCHEON LOAF" in 6 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 2" through "SELL BY DEC 6."

The following Frosty Morn brand products are subject to recall. Each package bears "P-9156S" inside the USDA seal of inspection. These products were distributed to retail and wholesale establishments in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.

• "FROSTY MORN BOLOGNA MADE WITH CHICKEN AND PORK" in 8 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 25" through "SELL BY DEC 15," and
• "FROSTY MORN P&P LOAF MADE WITH CHICKEN AND PORK" in 8 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28" through "SELL BY DEC 8."

The following Lay’s brand products are subject to recall. Each package bears "EST. 9156S" inside the USDA seal of inspection. These products were distributed to retail and wholesale establishments in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

• "Lay’s SLICED BOLOGNA" in 5 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28," "SELL BY NOV 4," or "SELL BY DEC 16,"
• "Lay’s SLICED CHOPPED HAM WITH NATURAL JUICES" in 5 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 12" or "SELL BY NOV 25,"
• "Lay’s SLICED COOKED HAM WITH NATURAL JUICES" in 5 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28," "SELL BY NOV 4," "SELL BY NOV 12," or "SELL BY DEC 16,"
• "Lay’s SLICED HAM & CHEESE LOAF" in 5 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28," "SELL BY NOV 4" or "SELL BY DEC 16,"
• "Lay’s SLICED PICKLE LOAF" in 5 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY NOV 25," and
• "Lay’s SLICED RED PEPPERED HAM WITH NATURAL JUICES" in 5 oz. packages labeled "SELL BY OCT 28," "SELL BY NOV 4" or "SELL BY DEC 16."

"We urge consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers," said Margaret O’K. Glavin, acting FSIS administrator. "If they find any of the products listed above, consumers should not eat it, but return it to the point of purchase."

The problem was discovered when R.L. Zeigler notified FSIS of a microbiological sample that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

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.

Media with questions about the recall may contact George Baker, company vice president of operations, at (334) 874-9041. Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Ken Fitzgerald, company controller, at (800) 392-6328.

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.

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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov

People at risk for listeriosis and their family members or individuals preparing food for them should:

Reheat until steaming hot the following types of ready-to-eat foods: hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented and dry sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry products. Thoroughly reheating food can help kill any bacteria that might be present. If you cannot reheat these foods, do not eat them.

Wash hands with hot, soapy water after handling these types of ready-to-eat foods. (Wash for at least 20 seconds.) Also wash cutting boards, dishes, and utensils. Thorough washing helps eliminate any bacteria that might get on your hands or other surfaces from food before it is reheated.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined or Mexican-style cheese. You can eat hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

Do not drink raw, unpasteurized milk or eat foods made from it, such as unpasteurized cheese.

Observe all expiration dates for perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat.

Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.

Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.