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Release No. 0445.02

Contacts: Alisa Harrison

202-720-4623

Steven Cohen

202-720-9113

**USDA PROVIDES UPDATE ON LISTERIA RECALL**

WASHINGTON, DC. October 17, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman
today provided the following update regarding the expanded voluntary
recall of 27.4 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat products announced
earlier this week due to the finding of *Listeria monocytogenes* on a
product-contact-surface at a processing facility in Pennsylvania.

"USDA, along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other
federal and state health agencies, is continuing its scientific
investigation into this situation. The voluntary recall and the removal
of product from retail establishments is actively underway. USDA is
conducting an aggressive education and outreach campaign to consumers,
particularly those at higher risk, and the plant involved will remain
closed until our investigation is complete and appropriate corrective
actions in that facility have been taken to protect the public health.

"Our top priority at USDA is the protection of public health and we must
continue to ensure strong prevention and enforcement programs are in
place to best protect consumers. That is why USDA's Food Safety and
Inspection Service, upon learning of the initial illnesses, has worked
very closely with the CDC to determine the source of contamination,
conducting more than 400 product tests and environmental samples, and
immediately upon determining contamination, took quick action to begin a
voluntary recall and suspension of production by the plant.

"Let there be no doubt about our determination and the seriousness in
which we take these important food safety matters. We have an
epidemiological team working in coordination with the CDC and various
state health departments to fully determine how the contamination in
this facility occurred and examine ways to ensure processing facilities
and federal inspectors can help prevent a similar situation in the
future.

"USDA continues its work to ensure strong food safety systems and to
examine ways to enhance its food safety programs through sound policy
and the best scientific resources available. This includes increasing
food safety funding and inspectors throughout the country, increasing
testing of product, revamping training to ensure inspectors are equipped
with the latest tools and knowledge to perform responsibilities, and
enhancing regulations and directives to reflect production, technology
and scientific developments.

"I have asked FSIS to develop a plan to strengthen our current testing
program for this organism.

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This includes revising the testing protocol for *Listeria
monocytogenes*, focusing on those establishments that produce the vast
majority of products, thereby increasing the number of samples taken and
testing being conducted at each establishment. This testing will include
product as well as environmental samples. We will also require that
establishments producing ready-to-eat products reassess their HACCP
plans to account for the likelihood of contamination with *Listeria
monocytogenes*.

"The team at USDA has also been working hard to complete a rule that was
proposed last year for *Listeria monocytogenes* in ready-to-eat meats. A
risk assessment, which is critical to implement this rule, is in the
final stages of completion. As well, USDA is conducting a scientific
symposium in November on *Listeria monocytogenes*, which will also help
provide the information needed to complete the new rule in the coming
months.

"Again, the USDA is strongly committed to ensuring that our programs are
strong and effective to best protect the public health. Our response
will continue to be aggressive and swift, and these immediate actions
will further strengthen food safety protections. And, we must continue
to work together in partnership with all interested parties to improve
and strengthen our food safety protection systems to ensure we maintain
a safe and wholesome food supply for every consumer."

## ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

USDA, in cooperation with the CDC and other federal and state health
agencies continues its scientific investigation into the cause of
illnesses, deaths and miscarriages in the Northeast from *Listeria
monocytogenes.*

On October 12, 2002, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, doing business as
Wampler Foods Inc., a Franconia, Pa., establishment, voluntarily
recalled approximately 27.4 million pounds of fresh and frozen
ready-to-eat turkey and chicken products that may be contaminated with
*Listeria monocytogenes*. The establishment also voluntarily suspended
operations. This is an expansion of the Oct. 9 recall of 295,000 pounds
of turkey and chicken products from the same facility. The Oct. 9 recall
was prompted by a product sample taken by FSIS at the facility that
tested positive for *Listeria monocytogenes*. The strain found in the
product did not match the strain common to illness victims. Results of
the product sampling from various days of production were all negative.
However, environmental sampling demonstrated the presence in the plant
of the *Listeria monocytogenes* strain matching the Oct. 9 recalled
product.

The turkey and chicken products were distributed to retail stores,
restaurants and institutions nationwide. This included approximately 1.8
million pounds of turkey products was purchased by USDA for distribution
to schools and other recipient agencies. USDA is currently determining
the amount of product still located in State controlled warehouses and
the quantities distributed to these organizations. As with all recalls,
all State agencies and recipients were immediately notified of the
recall and were instructed to discontinue the distribution of these
products pending their return to Pilgrim's under the recall.

More information about the product recall can be located at
<http://www.fsis.usda.gov/> or by contacting the USDA Meat and Poultry
Hotline at **1-800-535-4555**. People at risk for listeriosis and their
family members or individuals preparing food for them should:

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-   Reheat until steaming hot the following types of ready-to-eat foods:
    hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented and dry sausage, and
    other deli-style meat and poultry products. Thoroughly reheating
    food can help kill any bacteria that might be present. If you cannot
    reheat these foods, do not eat them.

-   Wash hands with hot, soapy water after handling these types of
    ready-to-eat foods. (Wash for at least 20 seconds.) Also wash
    cutting boards, dishes, and utensils. Thorough washing helps
    eliminate any bacteria that might get on your hands or other
    surfaces from food before it is reheated.

-   Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined
    or Mexican-style cheese. You can eat hard cheeses, processed
    cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

-   Do not drink raw, unpasteurized milk or eat foods made from it, such
    as unpasteurized cheese.

-   Observe all expiration dates for perishable items that are precooked
    or ready-to-eat.

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