Georgia Injury Attorney Blog
On November 8, 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the recall of over 28,000 pounds of Zeigler hot dog products due to concerns over possible Listeria contamination. Click and read the full USDA press release. The potentially unsafe hot dogs were produced by the R.L. Zeigler Company in Selma, Alabama on or around September 22, 2008, and shipped to food service institutions and retail establishments in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Consumers should be warned not to eat or use any of the Zeigler meat products being recalled. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause Listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract Listeriosis. However, Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Consumers who purchased or have any of the recalled product are urged to contact Zeigler at (800) 326-6328 or (800) 392-6328.
The potential Listeria contamination of Zeigler wiener products was discovered last week by food scientists with the Georgia Department of Agriculture during routine microbiological testing of product samples. Georgia inspectors detected Listeria monocytogenes in a 12-ounce package of Zeigler Chicken and Pork Wieners marked CI USE BY NOV 26 08. The tested package was also labeled with plant number P-9156S inside the USDA mark of inspection. After discovering the Listeria monocytogene contamination on November 7th, Georgia officials immediately warned the USDA, and began to remove Zeigler hot dog products with certain code numbers from store shelves in Georgia. A copy of the press release issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture can be found here.
A complete list of the Zeigler products being recalled include:
12-ounce packages of “Zeigler Wieners made with Chicken and Pork, artificially colored.” Each package bears the use-by-date of “November 26, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
12-ounce packages of “Vacuum Packed PAR-TI PUPS.” Each package bears the use-by-date of “November 26, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
12-ounce packages of “Zeigler Original Recipe Wieners, artificially colored.” Each package bears the use-by-date of “November 26, 2008” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
16-ounce packages of “Zeigler Jumbo Franks.” Each package bears the use-by-date of “November 21, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
12-ounce packages of “Zeigler Hot Dogs.” Each package bears the use-by-date of “November 26, 2008” and the establishment number “P-9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
10-pound bulk boxes of “Skinless Wieners, 8 Wieners per lb.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
10-pound bulk boxes of “Skinless Wieners, Artificially Colored, 10 Wieners per lb.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
10-pound bulk boxes of “Skinless Wieners, 10 Wieners per lb.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and the establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
10-pound bulk boxes of “Skinless Wieners, 12 Wieners per lb.” Each box bears the package code “PK 092208A” and establishment number “EST. 9156S” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
To date, there have been no reported cases of Listeria illness associated with consumption of the recalled Zeigler products.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria which can lead to a food-borne disease known as “Listeriosis.” Listeria can invade the body through a normal gastrointestinal tract. Once in the body, Listeria can travel through the blood stream and produce toxins that damage cells. Listeria invades and grows best in the central nervous system among immune compromised persons, causing meningitis and/or encephalitis (brain infection). In pregnant women, the fetus can become infected, leading to spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, or sepsis (blood infection) in infancy. Approximately 2,500 cases of Listeriosis are believed to occur in the U.S. each year, with about 20% of these cases proving fatal. Certain groups of individuals are at greater risk for Listeriosis, including pregnant women (and their unborn children) and immunocompromised persons.
If you need a Georgia food poisoning lawyer, or you have contracted Listeriosis or any other food-borne illness due to consumption of Zeigler wieners or any other contaminated food product, you should contact us in Atlanta at (770) 407-7300 or toll free at (866) 526-5891. Attorneys at Ragland Law Firm, LLP have experience with handling cases on behalf of consumers who suffer Listeriosis or other food-borne illnesses due to contaminated or negligently prepared food.