Texas Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Pork Products Due to Possible SalmonellaContamination
Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-007-2013 HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
Neil Gaffney 
(202) 720-9113


WASHINGTON, January 24, 2013 - Stallings Head Cheese Co., Inc., a Houston, Texas establishment, is recalling 4,700 pounds of hog head cheese that may be contaminated withSalmonella, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
Recommendations for Preventing Salmonellosis:

Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Also wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot soapy water. Clean up spills right away. 

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods. 

Cook raw meat and poultry to safe internal temperatures before eating. The safe internal temperature for meat such as ground beef and pork is 160° F, and 165° F for poultry, as determined with a food thermometer.

Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase (one hour if temperatures exceed 90° F). Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.

The following products are subject to recall: [Labels]
  • 10-oz. packages of "Richard's Hog Head Cheese" bearing establishment number "EST. 2257" inside the USDA mark of inspection and sell by dates "Use by 2 1 2013" or "Use by 3 20 2013"on each package.

The products subject to recall were produced on November 1, 2012, and December 19, 2012. The products were shipped to a distribution center for retail distribution in Louisiana and Southeastern Texas. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at:www.fsis.usda.gov
/FSIS_Recalls
/Open_Federal_Cases
/index.asp.

Hog head cheese products produced by EST. 2257 have been linked to a recentSalmonella Uganda cluster involving six case-patients from Louisiana. Working in conjunction with the Louisiana Office of Public Health, FSIS was able to link illnesses to the RTE pork products produced at this establishment based on epidemiologic and traceback investigations. Illness onset dates among the case-patients ranged from October 16, 2012 to November 10, 2012. Four case-patients confirmed eating the brand under recall. Leftover RTE product from consumers was not available for testing. However, retail samples of like product from different production dates underwent testing last week, and four of nine samples tested positive for Salmonella. It is not known at this time if these samples are positive for the outbreak strain, but any finding of such will be made public by FSIS once it becomes available. FSIS is continuing to work with public health partners on the investigation. 

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

Consumers and members of the media who have questions are encouraged to contact Fred Chu, the company's owner, at (713) 523-1751. 

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atAskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. 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 l0 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:www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/
Problems_With_Food_Products/index.asp.
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