By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com
December 31, 2008
A Colorado company is recalling approximately 172 pounds of burrito products because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Wednesday.
The Denver-based Home Fresh Sandwich Distributors, Inc. recalled its 5.3-ounce packages of "7-ELEVEN Fresh to Go BURRITO WITH POTATOES, BACON, EGGS, & MONTEREY JACK CHEESE." The burritos have a "Best By" date of "Thursday 1225" and the establishment number "EST. 19496" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The tainted burritos — produced on Dec. 23, 2008 — were sold at convenience stores in Colorado, according to the USDA. Consumers may have purchased the contacted products on December 24 and 25, 2008.
Routine microbiological testing by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered the problem. FSIS officials say they have not received any reports of illnesses linked to these tainted burritos.
The USDA warns that eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis — a rare, but potentially fatal, disease.
Healthy people rarely contract Listeria, USDA officials said. But the disease can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, and fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems. Infants, the elderly, and those with HIV or undergoing chemotherapy are at heightened risk of contracting the disease, the USDA said.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Deena Rowland, general manager of Home Fresh Sandwich Distributors, at (303) 370-6766.
Those with general food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative, who is available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov.
For additional information, consumers can contact the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). The information line is answered from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
