Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113; FAX: (202) 690-0460
Matt Baun

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2002– Crofton & Sons Inc., a Tampa, Fla., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,200 pounds of ready-to-eat, fresh and frozen smoked pork sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products subject to recall are:

• 1-pound vacuum packed packages of "MILD, BEAN BROTHERS Country SMOKED SAUSAGE." Each package bears the sell by date, "02/10/03."

• 1-pound vacuum packed packages of "HOT, BEAN BROTHERS Country SMOKED SAUSAGE." Each package bears the sell by date, "02/10/03."

Each label bears the establishment code "EST. 9179" inside the USDA seal of inspection.

The products were produced on November 11 and distributed to retail stores in Florida.

"We want consumers to be aware of the recall so they can check their freezers and refrigerators for these products," said Dr. Garry L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "If consumers find the recalled products then they should return them to the point of purchase."

Crofton & Sons Inc., notified FSIS that it was recalling the products based on a positive test for Listeria monocytogenes from a follow up sample collected and analyzed by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

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 children, seniors and those with compromised immune systems.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact David Bean, company sales manager, at (813) 685-7745. Media with questions about the recall may contact Kevin Crofton, vice president, at (813) 685-7745.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 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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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.