Your Meat Is Contaminated...What Do You Do? - BlackDoctor.org

A plastic package filled with sliced ham If you read about a contaminated meat recall, or realize you've bought contaminated meat, do you know what to do?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently reported that a Louisiana-based meat packing company has expanded a recall of nearly half a million meat products because of possible bacterial contamination. No illnesses have been reported so far.

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Due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the Manda Packing Company recall announced this past week now includes 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog headcheese, corned beef, and pastrami. The states affected by the recall include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky,Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service listed eight types of meat sold under 41 different names with various "sell by" dates. However, some of the products may have been sliced at retail delis, and if so, will not bear packaging information.

The recalled meats were produced at Manda's facility in Baker, La. between Feb. 27 and April 9.

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According to a USDA statement, eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease.

"Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis," the statement said. But the disease can be serious and sometimes fatal for those with weakened immune systems, and it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

"We are committed to work with USDA in reviewing and enhancing our food safety system so we can continue to ensure that our products are safe, wholesome and worthy of our brand name," Josh Yarborough, director of quality assurance for Manda, said.

The recall covers roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog head cheese, corned beef and pastrami.

For more information, visit the USDA's website.

NEXT PAGE: Click to the next page to learn what you need to do with contaminated meat...

Two pieces of roast beef

If You Suspect That Your Meat Is Contaminated...

1. Do NOT panic.

Many recalls are issued because there is a potential for the food to be contaminated. Often, food manufacturers issue a recall as a precautionary measure.

2. Do NOT eat the food.

Even though the food product may be recalled as a precaution, do not eat it, and do not give it to other people. Also, do not feed your pets with it.

3. Do NOT open the food (if possible).

Resist the temptation to open the food and check it. You can’t see, smell, or taste the bacteria or viruses that cause food illnesses. If you do open or handle the product, remember to wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for 20 seconds after handling it.

4. Check the recall notice to find out what to do with the food.

When a manufacturer recalls a food product, they provide instructions on what to do with the product. Typically, the instructions will indicate that you need to do one of the following:

Return the product to the store where you bought it for a refund.
Dispose of the product properly so that other people or animals cannot eat it, and to help avoid spreading the contaminate inside of your home.

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NEXT PAGE: Which recently-recalled meats do you have to worry the most about? Learn more about them on the next page...
Some of the specific meats from the most recent food recall include:

Turkey