Listeria Deaths Prompt Turkey Recall

Government health officials said that a listeria outbreak that might be linked to ready-to-eat poultry products produced by Cargill has caused four deaths. <P/> <a href="http://www.cargill.com/today/releases/00_12_12recall.htm">Cargill Turkey Products</a>, a division of Minnetonka, Minn.-based Cargill, is voluntarily recalling almost 17 million pounds of the products because of possible contamination. <P/> A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expert says that the same strain of <a href="http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap6.html">listeria monocytogenes</a> has shown up in 28 cases. <P/> The CDC's Sonja Olsen says that a comparison of products that the victims consumed showed that the "only thing that was significantly associated with illness caused by the outbreak strain was the deli turkey meat." <P/> Olsen says the listeria outbreak has also caused three miscarriages or stillbirths. <P/> Olsen says that listeria mainly threatens pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. <P/> The company says that customers should return the items to the store for a refund. <P> Listeriosis is an uncommon but potentially fatal disease with flu-like symptoms. <P> More than 20 sliced and unsliced products are included in the recall. <P> <b>Sliced Products:</b> <ul> <li>Owen's Hickory Smoked Pre-Sliced Turkey Breast, fresh <li>Plantation Fiesta Pre-Sliced Turkey Breast, fresh <li>Mesquite Smoked Pre-Sliced Turkey Breast, fresh and frozen <li>Pre-Sliced Smoke banquet-style Turkey Breast, fresh and frozen <li>Black Forest Turkey Ham, fresh <li>Pre-Sliced Turkey Pastrami, fresh and frozen <li>Pre-Sliced Star Turkey Breast <li>Riverside Pre-Sliced Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast, fresh and frozen <li>Pre-Sliced Oven Prepared Turkey Breast, frozen <li>Honeysuckle White Pre-Sliced Oven Prepared Turkey, fresh and frozen </ul> <b>Unsliced Products:</b> <ul> <li>Dine Rite Picnic Dark Turkey, fresh and frozen <li>Old South Turkey Ham, fresh <li>Plantation Cajun Fried Turkey, frozen <li>Honeysuckle White Cajun-Style Fried Whole Turkey, frozen <li>Boar's Head Our Premium Low Salt Turkey, frozen <li>Golden Catering Skin-on Turkey Breast, fresh <li>Carmel Colored Our Premium Turkey Breast, fresh <li>Our Premium Low Salt Skinless Turkey Breast, fresh <li>Smoked Turkey Breast, fresh <li>Oil Browned Chicken Breast, fresh <li>Oven Prepared Skinless Turkey Breast, fresh <li>Smoked Chicken Breast, fresh </ul> <P> Consumers with questions can call (888) 621-2717.