Walmart Grab And Go Sandwiches Part Of 380,000 Pounds Of Recalled Deli Meat

The last week of August, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Zemco Industries of Buffalo, NY , and Walmart, announced the recall of 380,000 pounds of deli meat. The recall was made because of possible contamination with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Such bacteria can cause listeriosis, a rare but potentially deadly disease.

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The recall includes :

• 25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches BLACK FOREST HAM With Natural Juices Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17800 1300.
• 28.49-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches HOT HAM, HARD SALAMI, PEPPERONI, SANDWICH PEPPERS" with the number 17803 1300.
• 32.67-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches VIRGINIA BRAND HAM With Natural Juices, MADE IN NEW YORK, FULLY COOKED BACON, SANDWICH PICKLES, SANDWICH PEPPERS" with the number 17804 1300.
• 25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches ANGUS ROAST BEEF Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17805 1300.

The recalled packages also have vendor number "398412808" on the label and the USDA mark of inspection.

A statement issued by Walmart says the recall involves the following half- and whole-sized Marketside Grab and Go sandwiches with a "sell by" date of Aug. 25, 2010 or before:

• Ham and Swiss Sandwich
• Italian Hero Sandwich
• Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich
• Smokehouse Hero Sandwich

The deli meat products were produced between June 18 and July 2, 2010. The packages have various "Use By" dates ranging from Aug. 20 to Sept. 10, 2010. The USDA has flagged this as a Class I recall, which means it is "a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death." Walmart instructed all stores to remove the items from the shelves. Customers who have purchased any of the recalled items may contact the store for a refund.

WebMD listed the USDA recommendations concerning risk for listeriosis:

• Never eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna, or other deli meats until you reheat them to steaming hot.

• Do not eat refrigerated paté or meat spreads from a meat counter.

• Do not eat smoked seafood found in a store’s refrigerated section of the store.

• Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk.

• Do not eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk.

• Do not eat store-made salads such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad, or seafood salad.

• Avoid soft cheeses such as feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses, and Panela unless the label specifically says it is made with pasteurized milk.

• Eat any precooked or ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.

• Keep your refrigerator at 40 degrees F or lower and the freezer at 0 degrees F or lower.

• Always wash your hands with warm soapy water before and after touching raw meats and items that came in contact with them, such as knives or cutting boards.

If you suffer from food poisoning, you need to get immediate medical care. If it continues or there are long term affects, you should contact an attorney concerning the problem. Early investigation can include the collection of samples, checking for health alerts, and the proper notifying of those who caused the problem.