Zemco Industries, a Buffalo, N.Y., establishment, is recalling approximately 380,000 pounds of deli meat products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. These products were distributed to delicatessens where they were further processed into sandwiches.

The products subject to recall include:
* 25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches Black Forest Ham With Natural Juices Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17800 1300.
* 28.49-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches Hot Ham, Hard Salami, Pepperoni, Sandwich Peppers" with the number 17803 1300.
* 32.67-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches Virginia Brand Ham With Natural Juices, Made In New York, Fully Cooked Bacon, Sandwich Pickles, Sandwich Peppers" with the number 17804 1300.
* 25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches Angus Roast Beef Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17805 1300.

The packages also bear vendor number "398412808" and the USDA mark of inspection. The meat products were produced on various dates from June 18 to July 2, 2010, and have various "Use By" dates ranging from August 20 to September 10, 2010. The products were distributed nationwide to a single retail chain.

The problem was discovered as a result of a retail sample collected by the State of Georgia that confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

Source: FSIS

Ammonia leak sends 120 to hospital

An ammonia leak at a Theodore, Ala., chicken distribution plant sent more than 120 people to the hospital, including four people in intensive care. Between 400 and 800 gallons of ammonia leaked at Millard Refrigerated Services, which affected both workers in the plant and workers at a nearby staging area for cleanup of the BP oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Most workers reported minor difficulty breathing problems or dizziness, reports the Associated Press. Injuries to most of the people admitted to hospitals are not believed to be life-threatening. The leak was closed off by plant workers.

Source: Associated Press, Yahoo! News

Poultry industry pays to keep Oklahoma scientists employed

The Poultry Federation, a nonprofit group that supports the poultry industry in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, donated $43,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to continue employing two soil scientists. State budget cuts had threatened the jobs of the scientists, who help develop plans for landowners to protect local watersheds.

In 1998, reports The Oklahoman, the Oklahoma Legislature passed the Oklahoma Registered Poultry Feeding Operation Act. This act requires poultry operators to have mandated litter management training as well as an approved animal waste management plan and maintain records of poultry waste removed from or applied to the premises.

If the state didn't employ soil scientists to provide the free service, producers would have to pay outside consultants.

"Those of us who work in the poultry industry are serious about our responsibility as environmental stewards and we value efforts to make sure poultry litter is properly used,” said Marvin Childers, president of The Poultry Federation. Terry Peach, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Agriculture, said the grant was an example of government and industry working together to support sustainable agriculture practices.

Source: The Oklahoman

Sanderson Farms says it's shipping chicken to Russia

Sanderson Farms announced on Monday that it has resumed packing and shipping chicken products to Russia. The announcement comes after Russia announced the end of the poultry ban, although the number of plants that the country has allowed is still in contention with the number of plants the USDA says qualified for export.

Reuters reports that Sanderson Farms Chief Executive Joe Sanderson called the Russia business "spectacular" but said the amount shipped is trailing pre-ban levels because not enough plants have been approved to resume shipments.

Source: Reuters