Apr 13, 2001 - 08:43 AM

Meat Plant Recalls 14.5 Million Pounds of Ready-to-Eat Products The Associated Press

CLINTON, Okla. (AP) - A meat plant is recalling 14.5 million pounds of meat and poultry products that may be contaminated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Bar-S Foods Co. voluntarily recalled the meat, which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Thursday. Recalled products include lunch meats, whole hams, sausages, hot dogs and corn dogs.

Brand names for the recalled products are: Bar-S, Bar-S Extra Lean, Coronado, Chuck Wagon, E-Z Carve and Thrifty.

The bacteria, which sometimes causes infections in pregnant women, newborns and elderly people, was detected in a sample of sliced ham taken from the plant March 19.

The plant was closed last week as the company tried to rid it of the bacteria. Plant officials were not available for comment early Friday morning, a plant worker said.

"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we urge consumers to check out their refrigerators and freezers to see if they have purchased any of these products," FSIS administrator Thomas J. Billy said.

Billy said any recalled products should be returned to where they were bought.

The products were sent to retail stores, delis and other outlets in the United States, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the South Pacific, the USDA said.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta said Listeria monocytogenes can cause an infection called listeriosis, which is one of the rarest food-borne diseases but one of the most serious.

Although rarely contracted by healthy people, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea, the USDA said. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, the agency said.

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On the Net: USDA Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov.

AP-ES-04-13-01 0843EDT © Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

Answers

Maggie,

About a week or so ago, I posted a link and story that they had shut this plant down due to the listeriosis. At that time, they didn't think that any of the meat which had gotten out to the public had this contamination.

Guess we should learn that if they close a plant for contamination, that all foods should be suspect.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

"Brand names for the recalled products are: Bar-S, Bar-S Extra Lean, Coronado, Chuck Wagon, E-Z Carve and Thrifty."

You know, you might think that it would be one brand name per processing plant, that there would actually be differences between brands. This is along the lines of putting all your meats in the same basket.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

This part at the end of the article, shows it could be really serious.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta said Listeria monocytogenes can cause an infection called listeriosis, which is one of the rarest food-borne diseases but one of the most serious.

Although rarely contracted by healthy people, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea, the USDA said. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, the agency said. [end snip]

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

I agree with you Sheeple. They try to give us a false sense of security, by saying all these places are inspected and because of that...our food is safe. I'm not sure if it was the article you had posted or another but, one of them said the inspectors didn't really have much power. It said they would give these plants so many warnings, over and over again. I wish they would give them a warning to clean up their act and the close the puppy down if their request wasn't done within a certain time limit. No more umpteen warnings.

Brooks, like you said a lot of different brands made at the same place. I just wish they had caught this thing earlier and closed the plant down before, there is a chance of many getting sick from this.

Maggie

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

'Way back in the early 70's, there was some sort of tomato soup recall. It was the first time I realized that half a dozen brand names were canned at the same facility--identical soup. After that was some sort of dairy product recall--sevearl brands again. After that, I chose the least expensive no-name brand, unless I knew (or cared) about a significant difference in taste.

Used to be I knew who made the appliances for Sears, Penney's and other house-brand names, but they swap around so much now.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001

I went to the store a couple of days ago, there was a 50 cent higher price (almost a third more) for a small can of minced clams then another brand. I got the cheaper one. I don't think it will make any difference in my clam dip.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2001