Listeria Fears Prompt Ham, Pepperoni Recall In Georgia

GEORGIA — Federal food inspectors say Perdue Premium Meat Company is recalling nearly a quarter million pounds of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

The product was shipped across the country, including to Georgia stores.

Listeria bacteria can cause serious infections, especially for older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and children. Anyone who thinks they may be ill should contact their doctor.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Services, the products were produced on various dates and shipped with several labels, but all have the same establishment number — "EST. M10125" — inside their USDA inspection marks.

The products were produced on various dates. The products subject to recall with associated dates are listed on the USDA website; view labels here.

Food safety officials have not released a specific list of stores in the state that received the tainted products.

So far, no one has reported being sickened by the contamination, which was identified through routine product sampling, officials said.

Symptoms of listeriosis, as the infection is called, include fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions and diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, still births or premature delivery, officials said.

Anyone in the high risk categories who experiences flu-like symptoms after eating possibly contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their doctors about eating the contaminated food. The infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Officials ask anyone who may have bought the contaminated ham or pepperoni to search their refrigerators or freezers and throw the products away or return them to where they were purchased.

Consumers with questions about the recall can visit www.alexanderhornung.com or call the Alexander & Hornung consumer hotline at 1-866-866-3703.