WASHINGTON, April 22, 2003– Balaton Hungarian & European Foods, Inc., a Brooklyn, N.Y., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 330 pounds of ready-to-eat, fully cooked pork and veal bologna products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products subject to recall are approximately:

• 1 lb. chubs of "Balaton Hungarian & European Foods, Inc, BOLOGNA."

• 1 lb. cryovac packages of "Balaton Hungarian & European Foods, Inc, VEAL BOLOGNA."

Each package bears the establishment number "21694" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were produced on April 10 and distributed to retail stores in Brooklyn, N.Y.

"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of the recall," said Dr. Garry L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "Consumers should check their refrigerators for the recalled product and return it to the point of purchase."

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in children, seniors and those with compromised immune systems.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact George Mitelman, company president, at (718) 375-2958.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

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