Texas Company Recalls Sausage Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this afternoon announced that a Texas company has recalled some of their sausage products due to possible listeria contamination.

The recall is being conducted by Southside Market & BBQ in Elgin. They are recalling approximately 2,373 pounds of ready-to-eat beef sausage product.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 16 oz. packages of “Southside Market & BBQ Original Beef Sausage,” Lot # 065-E
• 16 oz. and 48 oz. packages of “Southside Market & BBQ Original Beef Sausage,” Lot #’s 065-A, 065-B, 065-C, and 065-D
• 16 oz. packages of “Southside Market & BBQ 1882 Hot Recipe Beef Sausage,” Lot # 065-D

Case labels or packaging may bear the establishment number “EST. 21577” in the USDA Mark of Inspection.  The smoked and fully cooked products were produced on March 5, 2012, and distributed to retail warehouses in Texas, as well as through internet sales to California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, and Texas. The problem was discovered during routine U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) testing.

The FSIS and Southside Market & BBQ have received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products.

According to the USDA, 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. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.