80,000 pounds of Johnston County Hams recalled after the death of Listeria :: WRAL.com

By Janine Bowen, Editor-in-Chief of WRAL.com

Smithfield, N.C. – Johnston County Hams has recalled more than 80,000 pounds of meat following the death of at least one person following hams potentially contaminated with Listeria, according to the US Food Inspection and Food Safety Service 'Agriculture.

On September 27, FSIS was informed that a person had become ill after consuming a ham product manufactured by Johnston County Hams, based in Smithfield. Further investigation identified four cases of listeriosis, including one death, between July 8, 2017 and August 11, 2018.

Johnston County, Johnston County, reported that 89,096 pounds of ready-to-eat ham prepared between April 3, 2017 and October 2, 2018 are recalled due to illness.

The following products are affected by the recall:

• Variable weight from 7 to 8 lbs. Johnston County Hams, Inc., fully cooked, boneless boned ham
• Variable weight from 7 to 8 lbs. "Cured Sugar Sugar Processed with High Quality Fully Cooked Country Ham with Old Dominion Hams" with sales date from 4/10/2018 to 27/09/2019.
• Variable weight from 7 to 8 lbs "Padow's Hams & Deli, Inc., fully cooked country ham, boneless, brown sugar glazed".
• Variable weight from 7 to 8 lbs. "High quality fully cooked country ham, salt free, distributed by: Valley Country Hams LLC", with expiry date from 4/10/2018 to 27/09/2019.
• Variable weight from 7 to 8 lbs "Goodnight brothers' country ham, fully cooked", packed in plastic.

FSIS said officials are working to determine if other diseases are linked to Johnston County ham products.

Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths at birth, premature births, or life-threatening infections in the newborn.

FSIS urges consumers to dispose of any contaminated product and to check in their freezer any frozen Johnston County ham products that may be affected by the recall.

Consumers who have questions about the recall may contact Rufus Brown, Johnston County Hams Plant Manager, at (919) 934-8054.