The recall includes one-pound packages of both Ball Park Beef Franks and Ball Park Franks made with beef, pork and turkey. The hot dogs were packaged Jan. 25 and distributed in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. The problem was discovered March 24 when tests performed at a U.S. Army laboratory indicated the presence of the listeria bacteria. The bacteria can cause listeriosis, a rare but potentially deadly disease. No illnesses have been reported.
Ball Park is based in Philadelphia.
A separate Sara Lee unit, Bil Mar Foods of Zeeland, Mich., was linked to a 1998 listeria outbreak that left at least 21 people dead and prompted the recall of 35 million pounds of hot dogs and lunch meats.