WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2004 – American Kitchen Delights Inc., a Harvey, Ill., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 5,190 pounds of frozen beef brisket dinners that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall are cases of frozen "BEEF BRISKET WITH POTATOES, SPINACH AND GRAVY UNITED CODE # 9229."

Each case contains 45 – 8.7 oz. entrees and has a net weight of 24.7 pounds. Each case also bears the establishment code "17439" inside the USDA seal of inspection.

The beef brisket dinners were produced on Dec. 31, 2003 and were shipped to a wholesale distributor in Arizona. Because of quick Agency action, all of the cases are believed to be under control and no product has reached consumers.

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.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact company Quality Assurance Manager Eloy Diaz at 708-210-3200. Media with questions about the recall may contact company President Shahnawaz Hasan at 847-951-1139.

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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