(WLTX) - Buona Vita, Inc., based in Bridgeton, NJ, is recalling approximately 324,770 pounds of various frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall Saturday morning.
The packages bear the establishment number "P-954" or "Est. 954" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were sold to distribution facilities nationwide.
The problem was discovered through microbiological testing by FSIS and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). FSIS, ODA, and the company have not received reports of illesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.
The products subject to recall include:
The following items were produced on May 3, 2012 and can be identified by the case code "1242":
• 10-lb. cases of Cupino "Fully Cooked Meatballs with Pork and Beef"
• 10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella "1/2 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella "1 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Mama Isabella "2 oz. size Beef and Pork Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Sapore Italiano .75 oz Baked Meatballs with Beef and Pork"
• 30-lb. or 10-lb cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef"
The following items were produced on May 4, 2012 and can be identified by the case code "1252":
• 10-lb. cases of Vincent Giordano "4 oz. Cooked Italian Style Meatball"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Filomena 3 oz. Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Sapore Italiano .75 oz Baked Meatballs with Beef and Pork"
• 30-lb. or 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 10-lb. cases of Dirusso's "Fully Cooked ½oz Meatballs"
• 30-lb. or 10-lb. cases of Dirusso's "1 oz Italian Style Meatballs Fully Cooked"
• 10-lb. cases of Dirusso's "Fully Cooked Mini Meatballs"
The following items were produced on May 7, 2012 and can be identified by the case code "1282":
• 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand "3 oz Cooked Dinner Loaf Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride "Cooked Dinner Loaf Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand "3oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Pattie Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride "3 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Patty Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand "4 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Burger Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand "4oz Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added"
• 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand "3oz Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added"
• 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride "Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added"
The following items were produced on May 8, 2012 and can be identified by the case code "1292":
• 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride "Cooked Chicken Salisbury Patty Beef Added"
• 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride "Cooked Dinner Loaf LS Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 30-lb. cases of Argenta Pride "Cooked Breakfast Patty Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 30-lb. cases of Silver Lake Brand "Cooked Breakfast Patty Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 10-lb. cases of Whitsons Food Service "½ oz. Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 10-lb. cases of M&R Frosted Food Co. ".5oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Buon Gusto ½ oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 10-lb. cases of M&R Frosted Food Co. "1 oz Cooked Chicken and Beef Meatballs "
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Buon Gusto 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Buon Gusto 2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs Made with Chicken and Beef"
The following items were produced on May 9, 2012 and can be identified by the case code "1302":
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Buon Gusto 1 oz Baked Turkey Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Orefresco "1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Bullpen "1.0 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Mamma Mia's 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Napoli "1 oz. Traditional Style Cooked Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Whorle's "1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buonamici "1oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Mamma Cacciatore 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Filomena 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Napoli "2 oz Traditional Style Cooked Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Bullpen "1.5 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Napoli "1/2 oz Traditional Style Cooked Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Mamma Cacciatore 2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Bullpen "2.0 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Whorle's ".5 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "½ oz. Mamma Cacciatore Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Bullpen ".5oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Filomena 1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Filomena .5oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"
• 30-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Mamma Cacciatore ½ oz Baked Beef and Chicken Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Monabella ".5 oz. Primo Baked Beef and Pork Meatballs"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Sapore Italiano .5oz Baked Meatballs w/ Beef and Pork"
• 10-lb. cases of Buona Vita, Inc. "Buona Vita's .65 oz Baked Gourmet Meatballs with Pork and Beef"
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.
Wash hands before and after handling raw meat with warm/hot (preferred) or cold soapy running water by rubbing hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Also wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot (preferred), soapy water and clean up any spills right away.
The mechanical action of vigorous rubbing of hands and utensils/surfaces creates friction that helps to dislodge bacteria and viruses from hands and surfaces.
Additionally, warm/hot water helps to dissolve fats/foods, aiding in cleaning/microbe removal and can also assist in deactivation of pathogens. For more information on hand washing, go to http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing.
If soapy water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations. However, sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs, including viruses.
Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be thoroughly cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, and their juices and thoroughly cooked foods.
Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.
Do not eat refrigerated pate, 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, quesco 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 ºF or lower and the freezer 0º F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.