Check Your Deli Drawer: Pastrami and Corned Beef Recalled Over Listeria
City Foods Inc. is recalling approximately 3,215 pounds of ready-to-eat pastrami and corned beef products over possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.
The Chicago-based company’s products were shipped to food service locations in Illinois, Iowa and Michigan before being distributed further nationwide.
The recall matters because Listeria infections can be serious, even life-threatening, particularly for older adults, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems. FSIS said it is concerned some of the recalled pastrami and corned beef may still be sitting in consumers’ refrigerators and freezers, as well as in food service kitchens, weeks after the products were made.
FSIS said the potential Listeria contamination was discovered during routine inspection activities. As of this writing, no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recalled products.
Actions to Take if You Have These Products
Consumers and food service operators who have purchased the affected pastrami or corned beef are urged not to eat or serve them. FSIS recommends throwing the products away or returning them to the place of purchase.
Anyone experiencing symptoms after eating the recalled products should contact a healthcare provider. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email MPHotline@usda.gov.
Media and consumers with questions specifically about this recall can also contact Brian Sanchez, office manager at City Foods Inc. at 773-523-1566.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look, smell or taste spoiled but can still cause serious illness, according to FSIS. Symptoms can resemble the flu, including fever, muscle aches, chills, nausea and diarrhea, though the infection can turn severe in vulnerable groups, in some cases causing meningitis. Pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious complications.
