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More Prosciutto Recalled for Listeria

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

International Gourmet of Springfield, Va., recalled approximately 70 pounds of prosciutto products for potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination yesterday after a sample of prosciutto tested positive for Listeria during routine testing.  

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was notified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that the implicated prosciutto was also distributed to an Importer of Record and further distributed, resulting in this recall.

The following products are subject to recall: Various weight cases of "CASA ITALIA C.I. PROSCIUTTO BONELESS"  The exterior of each case bears the number "665" inside the Canadian inspection legend and the lot number "70." A yellow sticker placed on the foil wrapped product inside the case also bears the lot number "70."

The products were distributed to retailers in the States of Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

FSIS has received no reports of illness as a result of consuming this product.

The incubation period (time between ingestion and the onset of symptoms) for Listeria ranges from three to 70 days and averages 21 days.

A person with listeriosis may develop fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. In immune-deficient individuals, Listeria can invade the central nervous system, causing meningitis and/or encephalitis (brain infection). Infected pregnant women ordinarily experience only a mild, flu-like illness; however, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Purchasing Manager, Janet Sansalone, at (703) 569-4520.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on May 06, 2010 (boomark / email).