Ham Listeria Poisoning Risk Results in Recall for Quarter Million Pounds of Cooked Pork Products By Perdue

More than 240,000 pounds of sliced spiral ham and other processed pork products are being pulled from retail locations nationwide by Alexander & Hornung, a Perdue Premium Meat processing facility, due to concerns of possible Listeria food poisoning.

The cooked pork recall was announced by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on December 5, after Perdue Premium Meat-affiliated processor Alexander & Hornung reported positive Listeria monocytogenes results in product samples.

A bacteria found in soil and water, Listeria monocytogenes is often carried by animals who show no signs of illness. The bacteria are then passed on to the food processed from these animals like dairy products and meat. People who consume these contaminated products may contract the life-threatening infection Listeriosis. This disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women and their infants, and immunocompromised people suffering from cancer and other serious conditions.

Pregnant women and other higher-risk individuals diagnosed with Listeriosis develop an invasive infection, where the bacteria spreads to the blood from their intestines. This could result in an infection in the bloodstream and central nervous system which can cause meningitis. In pregnant women, there is an increased risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, stillbirth, and life-threatening infection. Symptoms of Listeriosis in this higher-risk segment can include fever, headache, convulsions, confusion, and loss of balance. Flu-like symptoms can occur within 2 months of consuming contaminated food products.

Though healthy adults rarely suffer from invasive Listeriosis, those exposed to large doses of Listeria monocytogenes can develop a non-invasive illness that causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache within 2 to 3 days after consumption of contaminated foods.

At this time there have been no confirmed sliced ham listeria poisoning illnesses or adverse reactions reported due to consumption of the contaminated meat.

A list of the recalled pork products provided by the USDA contains product labels, descriptions, and other important identifying information. All of the affected cooked pork products have an establishment number of “EST. M10125” inside the USDA mark of inspection and were distributed nationwide under the labels Alexander & Hornung, Wellshire and Food Club.

An estimated 234,391 pounds of cooked pork products are affected by the recall.

According to the FSIS there is some concern that consumers may have already purchased some of the affected products. Consumers who believe they have these possibly contaminated pork products are urged not to consume them but throw them away or return them to the retailer. Anyone who has concerns that they have consumed some of the contaminated meat and may be experiencing symptoms of illness are urged to seek immediate medical attention.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact the Alexander and Hornung Consumer Hotline at 1-866-866-3703.