Deli meats from Zemco Industries, sold in Wall Mart as roast beef and ham (reaching consumers as sandwiches), are recalling 380,000 pounds of its meat because of possible listeria contamination.

No illnesses had been reported yet.

Retail samples collected in Georgia proved positive.  The products are labeled Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches and has ‘Use By’ dates from August 20 to September 10.

Listeria monocytogenes produces fatal listerosis that has the symptoms of:  high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.  This bacterium is commonly found in soil, stream water, sewage plants and food.

Listerosis is a rare but potentially lethal food-borne infection with a mortality rate a lot higher than salmonella.  Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil, animals can also be carriers.  Listeria is found in uncooked meats, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk, and processed foods.

Pasteurization and cooking kill listeria.  However contamination may occur even after cooking:  before packaging.  Effective sanitation of food contact surfaces can prevent food infection.  Refrigerated foods are recommended to be below 4C.

Listeria is most prevalent in the elderly, pregnant mothers and AIDS patients.

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