Reports indicate that the US has issued a recall of approximately 3,200 pounds of pastrami and corned beef over potential concerns of Listeria contamination. The development has raised food-safety concerns because ready-to-eat meat products do not need to be cooked further before eating, making it all the more important to remove potentially contaminated packages from homes, stores and food-service establishments. Consumers are urged to carefully check official recall information before eating any of the affected products.
Consumer Alert: Pastrami and Corned Beef Recalled
Food said the recall impacts thousands of pounds of meat products distributed in the U.S. recalls may be initiated when routine testing, inspections or other evidence suggest a possible contamination risk. When a problem is discovered, companies and federal food-safety agencies try to trace products and pull them back from the market.
Recalled packages of pastrami and corned beef can remain in consumers’ homes for several days since they can be stored in refrigerators for days on end.
Contaminated Listeria Can Get You Very Sick
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that causes a disease called listeriosis.
Healthy adults may experience fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhoea . In some groups , the infection can be much more serious .
Older adults, pregnant people, newborns and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of serious complications.
As such, federal agencies generally treat potential Listeria contamination in ready-to-eat foods seriously.
Additional Precautions Needed for Ready-to-Eat Meat Products
Sliced pastrami and corned beef can be eaten directly from the package or used in sandwiches without reheating.
Contamination is especially significant as there may be no subsequent cooking stage to lessen the risk of bacteria.
Consumers are advised to compare their products to the official recall notice for brand name, packaging information, production dates, lot codes and other identifying details.
Products Under Recall Should Not Be Eaten
If you discover you have a product that is affected, follow the instructions for disposal or return provided in the official recall notice.
Consumers should not taste food to see if it is safe. Listeria contamination cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
If a returned package has leaked or touched refrigerator surfaces, clean the area as a way to reduce the chance of cross contamination.
Symptoms May Not Show Up Right Away
One difficulty with Listeria infections is that symptoms may not occur immediately after exposure.
Symptoms develop a variable amount of time after eating contaminated food, so people may not associate them with a recalled product.
Anyone who thinks they may have eaten the affected meat and develop symptoms that concern them should seek advice from a healthcare professional, particularly if they are in a higher-risk group.
USDA Investigations Track Contaminated Meat
Most recalls of meat and poultry products in the United States are conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Investigators may work with manufacturers and distributors to identify affected production lots, distribution regions and retail locations.
In general, the official recall notices will have the most accurate information about what packages are affected.
Retailers May Pull Products Before Consumers See Them
The recall information is usually disseminated quickly to retail stores and distributors, which begin to pull affected inventory.
But consumers may already have bought the products before the recall was announced.
That makes it especially important to check your refrigerator and freezer after a recall involving products with a longer shelf life.
Distribution information is also important for restaurants and food-service operators since some businesses may use recalled products in prepared food.
Sources
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service – Official meat recall notices, information on affected product.
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – Listeria Symptoms, High-Risk Groups, and Foodborne Illness
- FoodSafety.gov – Federal food recall & consumer safety information.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture – Information on food safety and meat inspection.
