Shirk's Meats Recalls Pork and Beef Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2015 Shirks Meat, a Dundee, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,478 pounds of pork and beef products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The various pork and beef items were produced between April 1, 2015 and May 12, 2015. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]

• 2-lb. vacuum sealed packages of Smoked Ham End Roast Prepared for Seven Bridges Farm with a use by/sell by date of April 7, 2016.
• 2-lb vacuum sealed packages of Smoked Ham Center Cut Slices Prepared for Seven Bridges Farm with a use by/sell by date of April 7, 2016.
• 1-lb. vacuum package of Beef Mild Snack Stix with a use by/sell by date of May 8, 2015.
• 1-lb. vacuum package of Pork Mild Snack Stix with a use by/sell by date of May 8, 2015.
• 1-lb. vacuum package of Beef Hot Snack Stix with a use by/sell by date of May 8, 2015.
• 1-lb. vacuum package of Pork Mild Snack Stix with a use by/sell by date of May 8, 2015.
• 30-lb. bag of Smoked Pork Andouille Sausage Prepared for Perfectly Pickled Products with a use by/sell by date of May 9, 2015.
• 1-lb. package of Pork and Beef Hotdogs with a use by/sell by date of April 15, 2016.
• 10-lb packages of Pork and Beef Hotdogs with a use by/sell by date of April 24, 2016.
• 1-lb vacuum sealed bag of Pork Beef Hotdogs, with use by/sell by dates of May 4, 2016.
• 10-lb vacuum sealed bag of Pork Beef Hotdogs with a use by/sell by date of May 4, 2016.
• 1-lb vacuum package of Pork Beef Hotdogs Prepared for Triangle T Ranch with a use by/sell by date of May 4, 2016.
• 1-lb package of Seven Bridges Farm Pork Mild Snack Stix with a use by/sell by date of April 1, 2016.
• 12 to 14-lb bucket of Lard/Pork Fat with a use by/sell by date of June 13, 2015.
• 9 to 12-oz vacuum sealed bag of Smoked Sausage with Cheese with a use by sell/by date of June 6, 2015.
• Random weights of Smoked Whole Hams with a use by/sell by date of June 13, 2015.
• 12 to 16-oz vacuum package of Smoked Pork Chops with a use by/sell by date of April 16, 2016.
• 1-lb vacuum sealed bag of Smoked Ham Hocks with a use by/sell by date of April 16, 2016.
• Random weights of whole vacuum sealed Smoked Whole Ham with a use by/sell by date of April 23, 2016.
• 1-lb package of Beef Sweet Bologna with a use by/sell by date of May 30, 2015.
• 1-lb package of Cooked Picnic Roll with a use by/sell by date of May 30, 2015.
• 2-lb package of Smoked Ham Center Cut Slices with a use by/sell by date of April 29, 2016.
• 2-lb package of Smoked Ham End Roast with a use by/sell by date of April 29, 2016.
• 1-lb package of Smoked Ham Hocks with a use by/sell by date of May 1, 2016.
• 12 to 16-oz vacuum sealed package of Smoked Pork Kielbasa Prepared for Triangle T Ranch with a use by/sell by date of May 1, 2016.
• 6 to 8-oz vacuum sealed bag of Beef Mild Snack Stix use by/sell by date of June 15, 2015. This product does not bear the FSIS mark of inspection.
• 6 to 8-oz vacuum sealed bag of Beef Hot Snack Stix use by/sell by date of June 15, 2015. This product does not bear the FSIS mark of inspection.
• 6 to 8-oz vacuum sealed bag of Pork Milk Snack Stix use by/sell by date of June 15, 2015. This product does not bear the FSIS mark of inspection.
• 6 to 8-oz of vacuum sealed bag of Pork Hot Snack Stix use by/sell by date of June 15, 2015. This product does not bear the FSIS mark of inspection.

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number EST. 18894 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These products were shipped to a various retail locations in New York.

The problem was discovered during routine sampling. In early April 2015 this establishment underwent construction, and in May 2015, FSIS performed routine Listeria monocytogenes sampling. Environmental, product-contact surface and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products that were analyzed for sampling were found to be Listeria monocytogenes positive. Additional FSIS and establishment sampling confirmed Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Naomi Shirk, Owner, at (607) 243-5581.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) 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. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

PREPARING PRODUCT FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline

1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit www.fsis.usda.gov

• Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.
• Do not eat refrigerated pate, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that do not need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.
• Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.
• Do not eat salads made in the store, such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.
• Do not eat soft cheeses, such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela, unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.
• Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. L. monocytogenes can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40ß F or cooler and the freezer 0ß F or colder.
• Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.