Listeria alert for Mich. company’s meat, poultry wraps

Federal officials issued a public health alert Friday amid concerns about possible listeria contamination from meat and poultry wraps produced by a Shelby Township company.

The PREMO Brand wraps JLM Manufacturing produced on Jan. 23 and Jan. 25 and have “best by” dates of Feb. 12 and Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a statement.

According to the alert, the products that may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes are five-ounce plastic packages containing one “Ham & Cheddar Wrap,” 5-ounce plastic packages containing one “Italian Wrap” and five-ounce plastic packages containing one “Tuscan Chicken Wrap.”

The products have establishment number “EST. 45360” or “P-45360” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The items were shipped to retailers in Michigan as well as Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia, FSIS said Friday.

Consumers who have bought the items are asked not to consume them and discard or return the items.

A recall was not requested since authorities believe those products have been consumed and are past their “best by” dates, according to the department.

“The problem was discovered when the firm received notification from the cheese supplier that the cheese ingredient utilized in the meat and poultry wraps was included in an expanded cheese recall due to potential contamination with L. monocytogenes,” its release stated. “There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.”

Consuming food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and their newborns.

Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal issues, government officials said.

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov, or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System is at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.