WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2003– The Butcher Block, an Indianola, Neb., firm is voluntarily recalling approximately 110 pounds of cooked roast beef that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The product subject to recall is "SLICED COOKED ROAST BEEF WITH JUICES." Each package bears the "PACK DATE" of "11-7-03."

The roast beef was produced and packaged on Nov. 7 and distributed for use at a banquet in Indianola, Neb., on Nov. 9.

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

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. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems – infants, the frail or elderly and persons with chronic disease, HIV infection or in chemotherapy.

Media and consumers with questions about the recall may contact Laurn Oltmer, company owner, at (308) 364-2715.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHOTLINE. 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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