Glazier's Franks Recalled From Upstate New York For Listeria

Washington, March 20, 1998 --- Glazier Packing Co., a Potsdam, N. Y. food processing firm, yesterday provided incorrect information about the sell by date of 1,440 pounds of its "Glazier Frankfurters" that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, the U. S. Department of Agriculture announced today.

USDA issued a press release yesterday with the incorrect information provided by Glazier Packing. The correct sell by date for all 5-pound and random weight (approximately 1-pound) packages of the product is "Sell by 4 6" (April 6) not April 5 as previously reported. "EST. 880" appears inside the USDA inspection seal on the product label.

"Glazier's Frankfurters" were distributed to small retail stores within about a 75-mile radius of Potsdam and Malone, N. Y., roughly covering Franklin and St. Lawrence counties.

"Because of the potential foodborne illness hazard, we urge consumers who have purchased the suspect product to return it to the place of purchase," said Thomas J. Billy, administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

USDA discovered the problem through its routine monitoring program for Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. In general, healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. However, listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems--infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic disease or HIV infection or taking chemotherapy for cancer.

Consumers with questions about the recall may phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.

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