Hot Dog Recall: Possible Contamination with Listeria

Over the weekend, the USDA posted a information about a hot dog recall for 28,610 pounds of weiners produced on September 22, 2008 which were sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee under the Zeigler’s brand and with other generic labels. The recalled hot dogs may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, which could lead to a severe and potentially fatal form of food poisoning known as Listeriosis.

Listeria can cause mild to severe infection of the gastrointestinal tract, and poses a particular risk for young children, the elderly, those with weak immune systems and pregnant women. Given that many of the recalled hot dogs were likely purchased for children, it is important that all consumers check any hot dogs they have to make sure they were not part of this recall.

The products included in this hot dog recall include:

• 12-ounce packages of ZEIGLER WIENERS MADE WITH CHICKEN AND PORK, ARTIFICIALLY COLORED. Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 12-ounce packages of VACUUM PACKED PAR-TI PUPS. Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 12-ounce packages of ZEIGLER Original Recipe WIENERS, artificially colored. Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 16-ounce packages of ZEIGLER Jumbo Franks. Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 21, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 12-ounce packages of ZEIGLER Hot Dogs. Each package bears the use-by date of “Nov. 26, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 10-pound bulk boxes of SKINLESS WIENERS, 8 WIENERS PER LB. Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 10-pound bulk boxes of SKINLESS WIENERS, ARTIFICIALLY COLORED, 10 WIENERS PER LB. Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 10-pound bulk boxes of SKINLESS WIENERS, 10 WIENERS PER LB. Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 10-pound bulk boxes of SKINLESS WIENERS, 12 WIENERS PER LB. Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Approximately 2,500 cases of Listerosis food poisoning are reported in the United States every year, and nearly 500 of those cases result in death. Early symptoms of Listeriosis could include muscle ache, nausea, diarrhea and fever.

While most healthy adults are able to recover quickly, in severe cases, the bacteria can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and nervous system, causing meningitis and other complications. For pregnant women, the illness may lead to miscarriages, prematures delivveries, still births or Listeria infections for their newborns.