Missouri Firm Recalls Frozen Pot Pie Products for Possible Salmonella Contamination
October 12, 2007—Denver—State consumer protection
officials Friday announced that ConAgra Foods of Marshall,
Mo. is voluntarily recalling all varieties of its frozen pot
pie products that may be linked to an outbreak of
salmonellosis. The recall was upgraded from an Oct. 9
public health alert that advised consumers not to eat
Banquet brand and generic store brand frozen pot pies.
Two Colorado cases have been reported with the outbreak
strain of Salmonella. One is known to have consumed the
recalled products. Nationally, 174 individuals have become
ill. The following brands and all varieties of frozen pot
pie products, including chicken, turkey and beef, are
subject to the recall:
- Albertson’s
- Banquet
- Food Lion
- Great Value (sold at Wal-Mart nationally)
- Hill Country Fare
- Kirkwood
- Kroger (sold at King Soopers and City Market)
- Meijer
- Western Family
packages bearing an establishment number “P-9” or
“Est. 1059” printed on the side of the package. An
investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and state public health departments involved
a large cluster of illnesses caused by Salmonella that
identified these products. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
continues its investigation to determine the source of
contamination.
The frozen pot pie products were distributed to
retail establishments throughout the United States,
Puerto Rico and the Caribbean islands. Distribution to
Colorado has been confirmed. Daniel Rifkin, Wholesale
Food Program manager for the Department of Public Health
and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division, states
that based on product shelf life, these products still
could be in consumers’ freezers, and it is important
that they return or discard these products and not
consume them.
The symptoms of foodborne illness caused by
Salmonella may include fever, diarrhea and abdominal
cramps. “In people with poor underlying health or
weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the
bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections,”
Rifkin said.
“Anyone experiencing severe symptoms should contact
his or her health care professional,” he said.
Consumers with questions about these products may
contact ConAgra’s hotline at 866-484-8671.
Consumers with food safety questions also may call
Daniel Rifkin of the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division at
303-692-3644. --30-- |
