WASHINGTON, October 5, 2003–Berry Packing, Inc., a Crossett, Ark., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 4,500 pounds of ready-to-eat sausage and ham 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 distributed to retail establishments are subject to recall:

• "BERRY, GARLIC HOT SAUSAGE LINKS" Each vacuum package has a net weight of approximately 20 oz. and is stamped with the code "4255"
• "BERRY, SUMMER SAUSAGE" Each vacuum package has a net weight of approximately 10 – 14 oz. and is stamped with the code "4245"

The following product distributed to a cold storage facility is also subject to recall:

• "BERRY, SUGAR CURED – SMOKED HAM" with a box code of "4245"

The products were all packaged on September 26, 2003. Each package bears the establishment number "2325" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were distributed to establishments in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of the products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing.

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 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, HIV infection or in chemotherapy.

Media and consumers with questions about the recall may contact Brad Davis, Manager, Berry Packing, Inc. at (870) 364-4856.

Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

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