Health Law

E. coli Outbreak - Palmyra Bologna Company Recalled due to Illnesses in New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania

By Marler Clark

Palmyra Bologna Company, Inc., a Palmyra, Penn., establishment, is recalling approximately 23,000 pounds of Lebanon bologna products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Lebanon bologna is a fermented, semi-dry sausage. This beef product has an appearance similar to salami.

The products subject to recall in packaging for consumers include:

• 6-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 20 2011" printed on the package.

• 12-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by dates of "Apr. 20 2011" or "Apr. 21 2011" printed on the package.

• 16-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 22 2011" printed on the package.

Each package bears a label with establishment number "EST. 474" inside the USDA mark of inspection, in addition to lot code "01351" and the best-by date as noted above. The products subject to recall were produced in December 2010 and were sent to distribution centers in Calif., Colo., Md., N.Y. and Pa. for further distribution to retail stores.

The products subject to recall in packaging for retailers include:

• Whole chub packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot codes "01351" or "06337" and best-by date of "Feb. 14 2011," "Feb. 15 2011," "Feb. 16 2011," or "Feb. 28 2011" printed on the package.

• Half chub packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot codes "01351" or "06337" and best-by date of "Apr. 6 2011," "Apr. 7 2011," "Apr. 16 2011," or "Apr. 19 2011," printed on the package.

• 12-pound bulk boxes of sliced "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 21 2011" printed on the package.

Each package bears a label with establishment number "EST. 474" inside the USDA mark of inspection, in addition to either lot code "06337" or "01351." They were sold to retailers and may have been further sliced and repackaged at retail. The products subject to recall were produced in December 2010 and were sent to distribution centers in Calif., Colo., Md., N.Y. and Pa. for further distribution to retail stores.

FSIS was notified of an investigation of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses on March 10, 2011. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, 4 case-patients in N.J., N.C., and Pa. have been identified with illness onset dates between Jan. 28, 2011 and Feb. 2, 2011. As a result of the epidemiologic investigation, FSIS determined that there is a link between the Lebanon bologna products and the illnesses in these states. FSIS is continuing to work with the CDC, affected state public health partners, and the company on the investigation. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a health care provider.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on March 22, 2011 (boomark / email).