FDBusiness.com

Baker, LA-based Manda Packing Co. is recalling 468,000 lbs. of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, head cheese, and other products meats due to Listeria monocytogenes concerns.

Each package of meat, which is sold under dozens of brands (including Manda’s own label) bears “Sell by” dates ranging from May 13 to July 2 and bears the establishment number “EST. 8746A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Contamination test

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) first heard of the contamination risk after a field test.

“FSIS was alerted to the problem by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, who took an intact sample of cooked roast beef at a retail establishment on April 5, 2013, which later confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes,” reported Lilia McFarland, a representative from the FSIS’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education.

McFarland stated that the recall is now being expanded because of an additional sample from another production date tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. She added that this recall is the first contamination incident on record for Manda Packing.

No illness to date

To date, neither FSIS nor Manda Packing Co. has received word of illnesses associated with these contaminated meats.

While representatives from Packing Co. could not be reached for comment, CEO Bobby Yarborough has responded with a letter on the company’s home page expressing concern about the situation.

“We are conducting a thorough investigation of this event and implementing corrective steps to make sure we never experience this again,” he wrote. “We will do the right thing.”