GA Firm Recalls Franks and Smoked Sausages for Listeria

WASHINGTON, February 18, 1999--Lowell Packing Co., a Fitzgerald, Ga., firm is voluntarily recalling approximately 4,500 pounds of franks and smoked sausages that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products are marked with packaging code 4l on the back of the package, and bear establishment number 2600 or P-2600 in the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection seal. The products subject to the recall are:

• Lowell Frankfurters - l pound packages;

• Lowell Red Hots (Franks) - l pound packages; and

• Colony City Smoked Sausages - 1-1/2 pound, 1-3/4 pound, and 4 pound packages.

The products were distributed in central and south Georgia, and in eastern Alabama.

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

FSIS discovered the problem through its routine monitoring program for Listeria monocytogenes.

At this point, FSIS has received no reports of illness associated with this product. Also, FSIS has no evidence linking this product to the recent nationwide listeriosis outbreak, which is still under joint FSIS and CDC investigation.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of 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 undergoing chemotherapy.

Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician immediately.

Consumers with questions about the recall may phone the Lowell Packing Company at 912-423-2051 for additional information.

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, although recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site on the World Wide Web at http://www.fsis.usda.gov

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media inquires to the company should be directed to Scott Downing at 912-423-2051.