PA Firm Recalls Hot Dogs for Possible Listeria Contamination

WASHINGTON, July 30, 1999--Gerrity’s Supermarket, a Kingston, Penn., processing establishment is voluntarily recalling approximately 200 pounds of hot dogs that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products being recalled are Gerrity’s brand "Old Fashioned Hot Dogs," in individually wrapped one-pound packages that bear "EST #4314" inside the USDA inspection mark. The hot dogs were also sold at the Gerrity’s Supermarket delicatessen counters by bulk weight and bear no codes. The hot dogs were sold between July 19-29.

The product was packaged on July 19, and was distributed only at Gerrity’s Supermarkets within the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area.

"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 Thomas J. Billy, administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The problem was discovered through a routine FSIS monitoring sample for retail establishments.

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 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, 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 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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