WASHINGTON, April 24, 2003—Papa Cantella’s Inc., a Vernon, Calif., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 6,570 pounds of beef sausage because of mislabeling, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The ingredient label on the beef sausage lists chicken, turkey and other ingredients not found in the product.

The products being recalled are 1lb. vacuum sealed packages of "SAUSAGE SHOP, PAPA CANTELLA’S, Fully Cooked, BEEF HOT LINKS, SMOKED SAUSAGE, MADE IN CALIFORNIA."

Each product bears a packaging code numbered between "0108" and "0422." The establishment code "EST. 6016" also appears on each package.

The products were produced between Jan. 8 and April 22, 2003 and distributed to retail stores in California and Nevada.

"We urge consumers who have concerns about the mislabeling of this product to check their freezers and refrigerators," said Dr. Garry L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "If they have concerns then they should return it to the point of purchase."

The problem was discovered by the company.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Tony Cantella, company vice president, at (800) 727-2676.

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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