Turkey Franks Recalled for Underprocessing

Washington, September 21, 1998 -- Bil Mar Foods, a Zeeland, Mich., food processing firm, is voluntarily recalling about 15,000 pounds of turkey franks because some of the product may have been underprocessed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today.

All 3-pound packages of "Mr. Turkey Jumbo Franks" with the sell-by date "OCT 1" are being recalled. "EST. P-261" appears inside the USDA inspection seal on the product label. No other product or size is affected by the recall.

The turkey franks were distributed to retail food stores in the following 13 states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington.

"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.

The problem was discovered when the plant noticed elevated levels of moisture in some packaged product.

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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Media inquiries to the company should be directed to Diane McNulty at 616-875-7711 x3420.