040152 Georgia Warns of Listeria in Deli Roast BeefJanuary 27, 2004Atlanta, GA - Commissioner Tommy Irvin announced that the Georgia Department of Agriculture's routine food sampling program has discovered Listeria monocytogenes in a brand of deli roast beef. Listeria monocytogenes is a species of bacteria that can potentially cause illness. The Private Selection Roast Beef in the sample was shipped to Kroger delis in bulk by Inter American Products, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio. "We have been working with Kroger and the distributor to determine which of the Kroger delis received this roast beef," Commissioner Irvin said. Anyone who thinks they may have this product should contact the store where it was purchased. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections to infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems such as persons with chronic disease, AIDS or HIV infection or taking chemotherapy for cancer.
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