FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        FOR MORE INFORMATION

January 30, 1999                                 Contact Mary Landrigan

Listeria Alert                                           (914) 637-4713

The Westchester County Department of Health today recommended that residents at increased risk of serious illness due to Listeria, especially pregnant women, elderly residents and people with compromised immune systems, avoid those hot dogs and cold cuts implicated in the widening recalls due to concern over Listeria.

"Since December, according to the Centers for Disease Control, a total of 79 cases of illness and 14 deaths have been caused by a rare strain of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes acquired by eating by hot dogs and possibly deli meats produced under many brand names by one manufacturer. The cases have occurred from early August, 1998 through January 20, 1999 and affect a total of 13 states, including New York," stated Dr. Harold N. Adel, Commissioner. At this time, there is no evidence that any cases have occurred in Westchester County, but one case is currently still under investigation. It is important that residents, and especially those residents for whom Listeria infection would represent a serious health threat, remain alert to the widening recall and avoid products that may contain Listeria," he continued.

On January 22, 1999, the USDA recalled all ready-to-eat consumer packaged products in distribution identified with Establishment 13529 or Establishment P13529 in the USDA Inspection legend or anywhere else on the package. The recall includes products that were produced between July 6, 1998 and December 30, 1998. A complete list of these products is attached.

On January 15, 1999, the USDA issued a recall of 10 oz packages of Oscar Mayer All American Variety Packs and 9 oz packages of Oscar Mayer Club Sandwich Variety Packs sliced and packaged on October 29, 1998. The recalled packages can be identified by the USDA codes of EST.537A or P-1449 or by a JAN 12 date in the upper left corner on the back of packages. This recall was issued on January 15, 1999 by USDA.

On December 22, 1998, the Sara Lee Corporation, BilMar Foods division, voluntarily recalled hot dogs and various processed meats marketed under the following brand names: Ball Park, Bil Mar, Bryan, Grillmaster, Hygrade, Mr. Turkey, Sara Lee Deli Meat and Sara Lee Home Roast. The recalled products are marked with the Establishment Number P-261 (for poultry) and

Establishment Number 6911 (for non-poultry).

Listeria is a bacterium that can cause severe illness in high-risk individuals. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage or fetal death. Infants, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems can experience life-threatening complications that include meningitis and bloodstream infections. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense headache, nausea, and vomiting. In normal individuals, Listeria infection often causes only mild illness with flu-like symptoms. Symptoms of Listeria infection usually occur approximately three weeks after eating a product contaminated with the bacteria, but may occur as early as three days after exposure and as late as 70 days after exposure.

Persons at risk can prevent Listeria infection by avoiding certain high risk foods and by handling foods properly. The general recommendations are:

• Cook thoroughly rqw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry
• Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
• Avoid raw (unpasteurized) milk or foods made from raw milk.
• Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.

Persons at high risk , such as pregnant women and immunosuppressed people, should:

• Avoid soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camambert, blue-veined and Mexican-style chees. (Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, of yogurt need not be avoided.)
• Cook until steaming hot left-over foods or ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs, before eating.

• Although the risk of listeriosis associated with foods from deli counters is relatively low, pregnant women and immunosuppressed persons may choos to avoid these foods or thoroughly reheat cold cuts before eating.

   

For more information, consumers may call the USDA Consumer Inquiry line at 1-800-535-4555. The USDA website is www.fsis.usda.gov .

The Health Department website is www.co.westchester.ny.us/health. Visit "Windows on the Internet" to access the USDA list of recalled products.