Food Safety Humor

FSPCA - Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance

Monday, July 9, 2012

NJ Firm recalling frozen meat product due to possible Listeria contamination

A New Jersey company is recalling 324770 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible Listeria contamination. The recall is being ordered based on positive testing results by FSIS and Ohio Department of Ag. There were no reported illnesses to this point in time.

Here again is a recall coming after government testing has found positive results. The recall covers 5 days of production, which probably goes beyond the typical lot (clean-up to clean-up).

What is the risk? While Listeria will not grow on the frozen product and while these products will likely be cooked before consumption, there can still be issues. Since the product is considered RTE, then there is the risk that someone will not cook the product sufficiently to kill the Listeria present. Also, if product is thawed and held at refrigeration temperatures for an extended period of time, then the Listeria can grow to higher levels.


Meatball company recalls 300,000 pounds of meat over listeria risk
Published July 09, 2012
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/08/us-usa-beef-recall-idUSBRE86700M20120708
By Lily Kuo
Sat Jul 7, 2012 9:32pm EDT

(Reuters) - A New Jersey meatball manufacturer is recalling more than 300,000 pounds (136,000 kg) of meat products due to possible listeria contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said on Saturday.

Bridgeton, New Jersey-based Buona Vita Inc was recalling about 324,770 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products produced in May, including meatballs, chicken and beef patties, and loafs of chicken and beef, the agency said in a written statement.

The FSIS described the health risk related to the recall as "high," according to the statement.

Representatives for Buona Vita, which says on its website that it produces 200,000 pounds (90,000 kg) of meatballs a day, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The possible contamination was discovered through testing by FSIS and the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the FSIS statement said. There have been no reports of illness related to the company's products, it added.

In 2011, more than 30 people died from listeria-contaminated cantaloupe linked to Jensen Farms in Colorado.

Listeria bacteria thrive in low temperatures. Outbreaks are usually associated with deli meats, unpasteurized cheeses and smoked refrigerated seafood products.

Listeriosis has a long incubation period, with symptoms sometimes not showing up until two months after people consume tainted foods.

Symptoms include fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea and other gastric problems.


USDA News Releasehttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_042_2012_Release/index.asp

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" 

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.

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