California Firm Recalls Chicken Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released the following information:

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2008 - Gourmet Foods, Inc., a Rancho Dominquez, Calif., firm, is recalling approximately 130 pounds of various ready-to-eat chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels]
17-ounce packages of "Famima!! CHICKEN TERIYAKI BOWL WITH SAUCE ON RICE, KEEP REFRIGERATED / PERISHABLE." Each package bears the establishment number "EST. P-7738" inside the USDA mark of inspection, as well as a "SELL BY" date of "06/04/08," "06/05/08," "06/06/08" or "06/07/08."
12.85-ounce packages of "Famima!! THAI STYLE CHICKEN WITH RICE, PEANUT SAUCE AND VEGETABLES, KEEP REFRIGERATED / PERISHABLE." Each package bears the establishment number "EST. P-7738" inside the USDA mark of inspection, as well as a "SELL BY" date of "06/04/08," "06/05/08," "06/06/08" or "06/07/08."

 Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis

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.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don't 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. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator. 
 
 
These ready-to-eat chicken products were distributed to retail establishments in the Los Angeles, Calif., area. Consumers that may have purchased these ready-to-eat chicken products at retail establishments between June 2 and June 7 are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard them if found.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause, miscarriages and stillbirths, and can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Infection can spread to the nervous system, resulting in high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, confusion, and convulsions.

The problem was discovered through microbiological sampling by FSIS. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Anyone with signs of symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.

Media and consumers with questions about this recall should contact company Quality Assurance Manager Abelardo Rodriguez at (310) 632-3300.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at 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 l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Type of Recall:
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.