Puerto Rico Firm Recalls Chorizos for Potential Salmonella and Listeria

WASHINGTON, August 26, 1999-- Medina & Medina, San Juan, Puerto Rico, a distributor of imported products, is voluntarily recalling approximately 880 pounds of chorizos, a sausage product from Spain, that may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products being recalled are:

• "Illera" brand Chorizo Cular en Mitadas in 12 to 16 ounce packages. Each package label bears the number 16 in the Spanish government mark of inspection.

• "Illera" brand Chorizo in eight-pound plastic trays (two trays to a case). Each case bears code number 270216. The chorizo was distributed to bakeries and sold as individual sausages to customers.

The product was only distributed in San Juan.

"Because of the potential hazard of foodborne illness from consumption of undercooked or underprocessed meat products contaminated with potentially harmful pathogens, we urge consumers who have purchased the suspect product not to eat it and to return it to the place of purchase," said Thomas J. Billy, administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. "USDA is informing the public so consumers who may have purchased and stored product in their freezers can know to check," Billy said.

Consumption of foods contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially for infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic disease, HIV infection, or persons taking chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

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. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems--infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic disease, with HIV infection, or taking chemotherapy.

Consumers with questions about the recall may phone Mr. Pepin Medina at 787-782-7575.

Consumers with food safety questions can 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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