Press Release 10/20/2006
Contact: Public Affairs (404) 656-3689
Ag Commissioner Warns Georgians About Recalled Egg Salad Products
Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is warning Georgians that several egg salad products sold in the state are being recalled because they may possibly be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a species of bacteria that can potentially cause illness.
Ballard's Farm Sausage, Inc. of Wayne, West Virginia, is recalling the following egg salad products: Ballard's 12 oz. egg salad, Food City 12 oz. egg salad, and Valu Time 11 oz. egg salad.
The recalled products are packaged in a clear plastic cup with "Best if used by 11/7/06" on the side.
The recalled egg salads were distributed in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Delaware, Illinois and Florida.
“I have instructed our food safety inspectors to check all grocery stores and food warehouses for the recalled products. If any are found, we will place them under a ‘Withhold From Sale’ order,” said Commissioner Irvin. “Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.”
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections to infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems such as persons with chronic disease, AIDS or HIV infection or taking chemotherapy for cancer.
At this time no illnesses have been reported in connection with this contamination.
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