WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2004 – Troy Pork Store, a Troy, N.Y., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 540 pounds of beef and pork frankfurters that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall are approximately 25 lb. vacuum sealed packages of “TROY PORK STORE FRANKFURTERS.” Each package bears the establishment number “Est. 4359” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

These products were produced on Jan. 23, 2004 and were distributed to restaurants in Troy, N.Y., and surrounding towns.

The company also sold 1 pound vacuum sealed packages of the frankfurters at the company’s retail store in Troy. All packages bear the same label information.

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

The problem was discovered by the company, which notified FSIS.

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.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Walter Pohlmann, company owner, at 518-272-8291.

Consumers with 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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