Illinois Firm Recalls Deli Meat And Cheese Trays For Possible Listeria Contamination

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2004 – H.C. Schau & Sons, Inc., a Woodridge, Ill., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 135 pounds of fresh deli meat and cheese trays that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 27 oz. containers of "CUB FOODS, HONEY HAM/ROAST BEEF ROLL-UP PLATTER" with package code 10984-00370. Platters bear the establishment number "EST. 19917" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 27 oz. containers of "CUB FOODS, TURKEY/CHICKEN CAESAR ROLL-UP PLATTER" with package code 10984-00369. Platters bear the establishment number "EST. P-19917" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 28 oz. platters of "CUB FOODS, MEAT/CHEESE NIBBLER" with package code 10984-07506. Platters bear the establishment number "EST. 19917" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 30 oz. containers of "CUB FOODS, CHICKEN WING PARTY PLATTER" with package code 10984-00234. Platters bear the establishment number "EST. P-19917" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

In addition, all platters are stamped with the use by date, "EXP 06 APR." All of the recalled platters were produced on April 1, 2004 and shipped to retailers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

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 with questions about the recall may contact company Quality Assurance Manager Robert Pavlak at 630-783-1000 ext.12. Media with questions about the recall may contact company Owner Chuck Schau at 630-783-1000 ext. 15.

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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