Hawaii Firm Recalls Hot Dogs for Possible Listeria Contamination

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 1999 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that Uncle Louie Sausage Co., a Kahului, Hawaii, company, is voluntarily recalling approximately 300 pounds of hot dogs that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The product being recalled is "Maui's Own Hot Dogs." The product was packaged on Oct. 29 in one and three pound packages and distributed in Hawaii. Each package label bears "EST. 12449" inside the USDA mark of inspection and has a self-adhesive label that reads "1029996."

"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we urge consumers who have purchased this product not to eat it and to return it to the place of purchase," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, associate administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling.

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 headaches, 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.

At this point, FSIS has received no reports of illness associated with this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician immediately.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may call Kenneth R. Enriques, company owner, at (808) 871-7544.

Consumers with questions about food safety may phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday, and recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

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