Long Phung Food Products has published a reminder of its ready-to-eat pork products, which have been shipped nationwide.
Four people were hospitalized after eating rolls of anchovy and Phung Long marinated pork slices manufactured between May 21 and November 16 and bearing the EST # 13561. " No deaths have been reported.
According to the CDC, Listeria is the third leading cause of food-borne illness in the United States and is particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems who are over 65 years old or who are pregnant. Symptoms usually appear within four weeks of infection but can take up to 70 days before they manifest themselves. In some cases, the first signs of infection are diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. The following typical symptoms are: headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
Pregnant women are particularly at risk. According to the CDC, they are 10 times more likely to contract listeria and the odds are even greater for Hispanic pregnant women, who are 24 times more likely to contract listeria.
Although pregnant women usually have only flu-like symptoms, fetal development is very dangerous. Infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, premature labor, or stillbirth.
Newborns with listeriosis can develop bloodstream infections, meningitis, and other serious, life-threatening complications. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics.
The disease has affected residents of Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Michigan, but the Food Safety Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture has expressed concern that families and businesses store frozen products. The complete list is available on its website.
The CDC advises consumers and retailers to discard or return unused products to the place of purchase, even if they have been consumed without any sign of illness. Shelves and drawers containing pork pies should be washed in hot, soapy water and disinfected.
