Newburyport, MA, August 11, 2008 - Home Made Brand Foods, 2 Opportunity Way, Newburyport MA 01950 is voluntarily recalling approximately 4890 pounds of "Ready-to-Eat" Tuna Salad with an expiration date of 8/19/08. This product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The following products are subject to recall:
- 99/ 5 lbs. units of "Home Made Brand Foods Tuna Salad" dated 8/19/08 expiration
- 412/10 lb. units of "Stop and Shop Tuna Salad" dated 8/19/08 expiration
- 366/12 oz. units of "Stop and Shop Tuna Salad" dated 8/19/08 expiration
The problem was discovered after routine sampling at the customer level and subsequent analysis of the product by an independent laboratory which found the product to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. All product lots produced prior to and after the above listed affected lot were found to be negative for Listeria monocytogenes through independent laboratory analysis.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
Consumers who have purchased the Tuna Salad should not consume it, but should return it to the place of purchase.