Listeria Recall: Beef Patties Were Sent to Schools

Beef patties sent to Jersey City, N.J. schools on Dec. 19 could be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes has been recalled by Maramont Corp. of Brooklyn, N.Y. and the Department of Agriculture. The recall was announced on Christmas, and it's not clear if the patties were served in school cafeterias before the schools learned of the recall.

Its 2-oz packages of beef marked "BROILED BEEF PATTY (MICROWAVE)" are individually packaged and delivered from 17.25-pound cases. Each case label bears a lot code of "07352" and product number "2801." Each case label also bears the establishment number "EST. 5370" inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were produced Dec. 18 and distributed Dec. 19.

Listeriosis is uncommon in healthy people, but can be deadly in those with immune problems. It can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea, as well as micarriages and stillbirths.

For more information, call Paul Altobelli at (718) 439-8900.

Here are USDA Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis

• Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

• 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.

• Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.

• Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don't need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.

• Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.

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

• Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

• Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 degres or lower and the freezer 0 degrees or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.

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