WASHINGTON, May 7, 2016 La Autentica Foods, LLC., a Hialeah, Fla. establishment, is recalling approximately 117,350 pounds of meat tamale products that may be adulterated with Listeria Monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The heat-treated, not fully cooked, not shelf stable tamale in corn husk items were produced from Sept. 4, 2015 to April 26, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• 20-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing four pieces of GOYA FOODS TAMAL EN HOJA TAMAL IN CORN HUSK with use by/sell by dates 02/2017- 09/2017 of and packaging dates of 9/28/15-4/5/16.
• 30-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing six pieces of QUIRCH FOODS TAMAL CUBANO EN SU HOJA CUBAN TAMALE WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK WITH DICED PORK with use by/sell by dates of 02/2017-10/2017 and packaging dates of 9/28/2015-4/11/2016.
• 20-oz. PLASTIC BAG packages containing four pieces of LA MILPA TAMALES CUBANOS ESTILO CASERO CUBAN STYLE TAMALES WITH PORK with use by/sell by dates of 05/2017-10/2017 and packaging dates of 11/5/2015-4/26/2016.
• 15.5-lb. BOX packages containing fifty pieces of LA MILPA TAMALES WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK with use by/sell by dates 09/2016-04/2017 and packaging dates of 9/4/2015-4/14/2016.
• 15.5-lb. BOX packages containing forty pieces of LA MILPA TAMALES ESPECIAL WRAPPED IN CORN HUSK with use by/sell by dates of 09/2016- and packaging dates of 9/15/2015-4/13/2016.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 11154 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a retail and restaurant locations in Florida and New Jersey.

The problem was discovered during an FDA recall of frozen corn contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Mr. Fabrice Riviere, President, at (786)-409-3779.

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. 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 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

PREPARING PRODUCT FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit
www.fsis.usda.gov

• 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.
• Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.
• Do not eat refrigerated pate, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that do not 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. L. monocytogenes can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40ß F or cooler and the freezer 0ß F or colder Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.