Cargill Turkey Products Announces Recall

Friday, December 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WACO, TEXAS â€“ Cargill Turkey Products has voluntarily initiated a recall of 16.7 million pounds of ready-to-eat poultry products produced at its Waco, Texas, facility to safeguard against possible infection by Listeria monocytogenes.

The products were produced from May 1 to December 11. They were distributed nationwide and to two other countries through grocery stores, restaurants and institutions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are studying whether some products from the Waco facility might contain Listeria monocytogenes associated with 25 cases of listeriosis, most of which have occurred since July 2000.

"Even though CDC and FSISâ€™s study isnâ€™t completed, the preliminary results convinced us that it was in the best interest of consumers and our customers to voluntarily initiate this recall," said John Oâ€™Carroll, president of Cargill Turkey Products. "If consumers have any of the recalled products, they should not eat them, but return them to the point of purchase."

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. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systemsâ€”infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic disease, with HIV infection, or taking chemotherapy. Consumers who feel they have symptoms of listeriosis should contact their physicians.

Some of the products were sold at retail grocery stores in packages that can be identified by consumers. The products carry the establishment number P-635 and include:

SLICED PRODUCTS

Owenâ€™s Hickory Smoked Pre-Sliced Turkey Breast, fresh
Plantation Fiesta Pre-Sliced Turkey Breast, fresh
Mesquite Smoked Pre-Sliced Turkey Breast, fresh and frozen
Pre-Sliced Smoke Banquet-style Turkey Breast, fresh and frozen
Black Forest Turkey Ham, fresh
Pre-Sliced Turkey Pastrami, fresh and frozen
Pre-Sliced Star Turkey Breast
Riverside
Pre-Sliced Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast, fresh and frozen
Pre-Sliced Oven Prepared Turkey Breast, frozen
Honeysuckle White Pre-Sliced Oven Prepared Turkey, fresh and frozen

UNSLICED PRODUCTS

Dine Rite Picnic Dark Turkey, fresh and frozen
Old South Turkey Ham, fresh
Plantation Cajun Fried Turkey, frozen
Honeysuckle White Cajun-Style Fried Whole Turkey, frozen
Boarâ€™s Head Our Premium Low Salt Turkey, frozen
Golden Catering Skin-on Turkey Breast, fresh
Carmel Colored Our Premium Turkey Breast, fresh
Our Premium Low Salt Skinless Turkey Breast, fresh
Smoked Turkey Breast, fresh
Oil Browned Chicken Breast, fresh
Oven Prepared Skinless Turkey Breast, fresh
Smoked Chicken Breast, fresh

The Waco facility sold other products in bulk and that were sliced at delicatessens and restaurants and would not be readily identifiable by consumers. Cargill Turkey Products has contacted establishments who purchased those products, which are being removed and returned. Consumers who are concerned whether they may have eaten any of the products should contact their local grocery stores or restaurants.

Consumers with questions about the recall may call Cargill Turkey Products at 888-621-2717 or visit the website www.plantation-foods.com. Cargill Turkey Products is based in Springdale, Ark., and is part of Minneapolis-based Cargill, Incorporated.