Louisiana Accident Attorney Blog

Listeria is to blame for the recent, Class I recall of frozen Blimpie beef sandwiches in 5 states.

This Class I recall applies to ready-to-eat frozen beef sandwich portions sold in 3.5 ounce, individually wrapped packages. The label reads “Blimpie Fully Cooked Seasoned Beef Shaved Steaks Thinly Sliced with Onions” and contains “EST. 2727″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products available for consumer purchase also contain a Julian date of “3198,” “3228″ or “3238.”

The recalled sandwich portions were distributed to retail locations in Georgia, California, Florida, Illinois and New York.

According to the USDA website, the manufacturer, Home Market Foods, Inc., discovered the contamination during routine testing. No reports of food poisoning or illness have been received.
Listeria monocytogenes is most commonly found in raw meats, cold cuts, uncooked vegetables, soft cheeses, pates, smoked fish and un-pasteurized milk products. When commercial products are found to be contaminated with Listeria, it is often linked to problems during manufacturing, processing or packaging.

Consuming foods contaminated with Listeria bacteria could cause food poisoning-type symptoms such as muscle ache, nausea, diarrhea and fever. Most healthy people are not affected by listeria. However, at-risk populations, such as those with weak immune systems, infants and the elderly, can suffer serious health problems. In the most severe cases, the nervous system could be affected and the infection could be fatal. For pregnant women, listeriosis may lead to miscarriages, premature deliveries, still births or fetal infections.
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Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis (from the USDA website)

Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don't need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.

Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.

Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.

Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.