Company Recalls 23,000 Pounds of Meat Due to Listeria Contamination Concerns

A Kansas company is recalling roughly 22,800 pounds of chicken, ham and beef products due to concerns over possible Listeria contamination, the US Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.

Produced by Reser's Fine Foods, the products are distributed throughout a wide range of states. These include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

According to the USDA, the problem was uncovered through testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A traceback investigation and follow-up testing by the FDA revealed the possibility of cross contamination of products with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

Neither the Food Safety and Inspection Service nor Reser's Fine Foods have received reports of illness tied to the products; however, the USDA recommends that concerned individuals should contact a healthcare provider.

Listeriosis is a serious infection that primarily affects newborns, the elderly and adults with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms include fever and muscle aches, and may also include confusion, loss of balance, a stiff neck and convulsions.

Those at risk for listeriosis should avoid raw meat, fish and poultry, hot dogs, unpasteurized milk and milk products, soft cheeses, pre-made salads such as egg and tuna salads, meat spreads, smoked and canned seafood.

Those with questions about the recall are encouraged to contact the Reser's Fine Foods Consumer Hotline at 1-888-257-7913.

To see a list of recalled products, click here.