Meat products weighing about 9,330 pounds and sold at Florida stores were recalled this week amid a listeria outbreak, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The ready-to-eat meat from Don Novo and Son could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an infection that affects older adults, the USDA said Thursday. Pregnant women and their newborns and people with weakened immune systems are also most at risk.
The potentially contaminated meat was produced Dec. 21 and has the establishment number, "EST. 34257," the USDA said.
The contamination was discovered after a sampling collected by a state public health partner tested positive for listeria, the USDA said. Illnesses related to the recall are unknown.
The USDA said it encourages anyone with the affected products to throw them away or return them to the store.
The products are listed as the following:
- 1-lb. shrink-wrapped packages containing “Don Novo CHORIZO FULLY COOKED” with the expiration date of 3/30/2024 printed on the package.
- 1-lb. shrink-wrapped packages containing “Don Novo COSTILLAS AHUMADAS SMOKED PORK RIBS” with the expiration date of 3/30/2024 printed on the package.
- 12-lb. shrink-wrapped packages containing “Don Novo JAMON DULCE SWEET COOKED HAM AND WATER PRODUCTS” with the expiration date of 3/30/2024 printed on the package.
- 5.4-lb. to 5.5-lb. shrink-wrapped packages containing “Don Novo MORTADELLA CUBANA CUBAN BRAND MORTADELA” with the expiration date of 3/30/2024 printed on the package.
- 1.5-lb. shrink-wrapped packages containing “Don Novo LOMO AHUMADO SMOKED PORK LOIN” with the expiration date of 3/30/2024 printed on the package.
Symptoms of a listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
"An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems," the USDA said.
Listeria is treatable with antibiotics. Anyone in the high-risk categories with flu-like symptoms within two months of eating the contaminated meat should seek medical care, the USDA advised.