WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 – Vincent Giordano Corp., a Philadelphia, Pa., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 52,000 pounds of ready-to-eat meat products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

Various weights and sizes of the following products are subject to recall:

• "BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S, Family Sports Pubs, COOKED CORNED BEEF."

• "PREMIUM QUALITY, Private Selection, Premium Deli Meats, U.S.D.A. Choice Top Round, ROAST BEEF."

• "Chef CHARLES, Our Gourmet Quality, FULLY COOKED, KEEP REFRIGERATED, PASTRAMI."

• "Shur Fine, Deli Gourmet, Pastrami."

• "Royal Quality Foods, FULLY COOKED, READY TO EAT, Pastrami."

• "Thompson’s cajun queen, COOKED CORNED BEEF, AND TWENTY PERCENT WATER."

• "ROYAL QUALITY FOODS, FULLY COOKED, READY TO EAT, COOKED CORNED BEEF."

• "deli SMART, COOKED ROAST BEEF."

• Vincent Giordano, 97% FAT FREE, PREMIUM QUALITY, EXTRA LEAN, CAPOFF TOP ROUND, ROAST BEEF."

• "Vincent Giordano, Joy BRAND, PASTRAMI."

• "Colonial TRADITION, Deluxe, Cooked Corned Beef."

• "Pocahontas, Colonial Tradition, Deluxe, Pastrami."

• "Red Osier, USDA Select and Higher, Dry Oven Roast Beef."

• "Vincent Giordano, Cajun Style, ROAST BEEF."

• "Vincent Giordano, Joy BRAND, PASTRAMI."

• "H-E-B., Premium Quality, DELICATESSEN FOODS, ROAST BEEF, Cajun Style Seasoned, USDA Choice, 96% Fat Free."

Each of the products bear the establishment number "EST. 5397" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products subject to recall also bear the date code "350."

The products were produced between Dec. 11 and Dec. 15, 2003, and were packaged on Dec. 16, 2003. They were distributed to retail stores nationwide.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

The problem was discovered by the state of Georgia.

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.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Bruce Belack, company vice president of sales, at 215-467-6629. Media with questions about the recall may contact Tom Shannon, company media representative, at 215-467-6629.

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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