April 5, 2010

Listeria fears prompt Easter ham recall in US

Listeria concerns spurred the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to recall approximately 100 pounds of ham products from store shelves in the Twin Cites area.

The products, processed by Lorentz Meats in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, were distributed to stores in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

The recall targeted various sizes of whole or half ham packages labelled "KOWALSKI'S Markets, FULLY COOKED, SMOKED HAM, Naturally Smoked with Hardwoods, KEEP REFRIGERATED." Each package bears a freeze by date "FREEZE BY 05/14/10" as well as the establishment number "Est. 21207" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The ham products were produced on March 12, 2010.

The problem was discovered through third-party testing, and the processor notified FSIS. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.