To: Don Pueblo who wrote (47981 ) 8/4/2000 4:46:41 PM From: Sir Auric Goldfinger Respond to of 63513 Chicken nuggets, ready-to-eat meats recalled - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Friday announced voluntary recalls of about 6,000 pounds of chicken nuggets and 19,000 pounds of ready-to-eat meats and hot dogs, beef franks and packaged roast beef. The products may be contaminated with possibly life-threatening bacteria. Ahava Products Corp. of Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling two-pound packages of chicken nuggets imported from Israel that may be tainted with Salmonella. The packages have the plant code 186 IL, a production date of 6/11/00 and a "Best Before" date of 6/12/01. Salmonella is one of the most common food-borne bacteria and can cause salmonellosis - a potentially fatal illness that causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting. No illnesses have been associated with the chicken nuggets but food safety officials urge consumers not to eat the products. "Because of the potential for food-borne illness, we urge consumers to check to see if they have purchased the product," said Thomas J. Billy, administrator of the Food and Safety Inspection Service. Levonian Brothers Inc. of Troy, N.Y., recalled random weight packages of ham, salami, roast beef, corned beef and pastrami that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The meat was distributed to delis and wholesalers. The packages have a production date code of July 25 or July 26 and "EST. 5065" inside the USDA inspection seal. The recall also includes Levonian brand "Our Premium Natural Casing Hot Dogs, " Levonian brand "Beef Franks," and "Top Round Roast Beef " that may have Listeria, a bacteria can cause potentially fatal infections in infants, the elderly and people with weak immune systems, HIV or chronic disease. The hot dogs were sold in one- and five-pound packages, stamped with "SELL BY SEP08." The beef franks were sold in one-pound packages, stamped with "SELL BY SEP08," and the roast beef was sold in 12-ounce packages with "SELL BY 8/24" on the package. The products were distributed in Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. No reports of illness have been reported. Consumers can contact Ahava Products Corp. at 718 243-2300, extension 122, reach Levonian Brothers Inc. at 518 274-3601 or telephone the USDA Meat and Poultry hotline at 800-535-4555. --