WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2003—LSG Sky Chefs, an Orlando, Fla., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,135 pounds of turkey and ham used in chef salads that may be contaminated with Salmonella, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The salads were produced on Nov. 11 and 12, 2003 and were distributed to retail stores in Florida.

The products subject to recall are 7.7 oz. bowls of:

• "7 ELEVEN, CHEF SALAD, WITH TURKEY AND HAM." Each package bears the establishment code "P-19682" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The salads produced on Nov. 11 bear the manufacturing date code of "1111" and the expiration date code of "1112." The products produced on Nov. 12 bear the manufacturing date code of "1112" and the expiration date code "1113." Salads with date codes other than those listed above are not subject to the recall.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling.

Consumption of food 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, with HIV infection, or 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.

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

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Dalene Nichols, company director of corporate communications, at 972-793-9209.

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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