Listeria Alert Issued For Deli Meat After 3 Sickened In IL

Federal authorities recently issued a public health alert for headcheese that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes after three people were sickened in Illinois.

The affected foods include Daisy Brand Meat Products headcheese with a use-by date of March 26, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, which noted headcheese with a red “hot” sticker and the same use-by date also falls under the alert. The products were distributed to retail delis in Illinois and Indiana and bear the establishment number “est. 21406.”

“The problem was discovered as part of an ongoing illness outbreak investigation,” the alert said. “FSIS, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and local health departments in Illinois are investigating a localized outbreak of Lm that includes three sick people in Illinois.”

Federal authorities collected an unopened headcheese sample that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, according to the alert, which was issued Saturday. Further testing will determine if the product is related to the specific outbreak strain.

The headcheese should be thrown away or returned, and consumers who bought it are urged to clean refrigerators to prevent the risk of cross-contamination, authorities said. Retail delis that housed the products are recommended to clean and sanitize all surfaces and discard any open meats and cheeses.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and newborns, according to the alert.

“Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms,” the alert said. “An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract.”

People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about the food, according to the alert.

People with questions about the alert can contact the Crawford Sausage Co. Inc. at 773-277-3095. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System is at foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.