Check Your Fridge — Lunch Meats Have Been Recalled Nationwide
Here’s what you need to know.
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Before you pack up those sandwiches for your summer picnic or road trip, take note: There’s an active Class I recall on for ready-to-eat luncheon meats.
Chicago-based meat company City Foods, Inc. has recalled about 3,215 pounds of ready-to-eat pastrami and corned beef products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Which ready-to-eat luncheon meats have been recalled?
The recalled meats were produced on July 16 and have a shelf life of 60 days, according to an August 8 announcement posted online by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
A Class I recall is described by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a “situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The following products have been recalled:
- Midamar Halal Sliced Pastrami Round 4/2.5# - Midamar, distributed in 10-pound cardboard boxes, each of which contains four 2.5-pound pieces with “ITEM #: MBPS10” printed on the label.
- Bea’s Best Cooked Corned Beef Brisket, sold in cardboard boxes weighing 20 to 30 pounds. Each box contains two or three pieces and features the case code “18919” printed on the label.
- Kirsch Delicatessen Style Cooked Corned Beef Brisket, sold in cardboard boxes weighing 20 to 30 pounds. Each box contains two or three pieces and features the case code “19751” printed on the label.
The establishment number “EST. 1896” appears within the USDA mark of inspection on all three of the recalled products.
The recalled products' labels can be viewed here.
Where were the recalled products sold?
The ready-to-eat luncheon meats were distributed to foodservice locations in Illinois, Iowa and Michigan. From those locations, they were then distributed nationwide.
FSIS says it is “concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators and freezers, along with institution refrigerators and freezers.”
How was the issue discovered?
The potential contamination was discovered “during routine inspection activities,” according to the FSIS announcement.
What is the risk of eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes?
It can cause an infection called listeriosis, which is especially risky or even potentially fatal for the very old, the very young, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborn babies. People outside the higher risk groups may develop severe infections as well.
Symptoms of listeriosis — which can be treated with antibiotics — include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, which may be preceded by gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea. For pregnant women, an invasive infection may result in miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or a potentially fatal infection for the newborn infant.
Has anyone gotten sick from the recalled lunch meat?
So far, no illnesses related to the recalled products have been reported, according to FSIS.
What should you do if you have the recalled products?
Don’t eat them. Instead, throw them away or return them to wherever you bought them.
What should you do if you think you have been sickened from one of these recalled products?
FSIS urges anyone who is concerned that they may have become ill to contact a healthcare provider.
“Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food,” it adds.
What should you do if you have questions or want more information about the recall?
Those seeking more information about this recall are directed to contact Brian Sanchez at City Foods, Inc., at 773-523-1566 or brian@beasbest.com.
Those with general food safety questions can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov.
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