Michigan Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meal Kits

WASHINGTON, September 1, 2009 - Big Boy Food Group, a Warren, Mich., establishment, is recalling approximately 39,514 pounds of ready-to-eat meal kits that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following product is subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only]

Dinolunch Brand:

• 3.6 oz “DINOLUNCH CARNIVORE HAM & CHEESE” meal kits. Each tray includes ham, cheese, and crackers; a juice drink and Dino cookies. The front of each package bears the establishment number “EST. 4205” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the Use by/Sell by date of “10/24/2009.”
• 3.6 oz “DINOLUNCH T-REX TURKEY & CHEESE” meal kits. Each tray includes turkey, cheese, and crackers; a juice drink and Dino cookies. The front of each package bears the establishment number “P- 4205” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the Use by/Sell by date of “10/24/2009.”

Each case of the Dinolunch brand meal kits, subject to recall, can be identified by the case code “9237” and contains approximately twelve (12) trays. The products were produced on August 25, 2009 and distributed to wholesale and retail establishments in Texas. If available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls
/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp

Lunch Buddies Brand:

• 3.6 oz “Lunch Buddies Ham & Cheese” meal kits. Each tray includes ham, cheese, and crackers; a juice drink and a sweet treat. The front of each package bears the establishment number “EST. 4205” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the Use by/Sell by date of “10/24/2009.”
• 3.6 oz “Lunch Buddies Turkey & Cheese” meal kits. Each tray includes turkey, cheese, and crackers; a juice drink and a sweet treat. The front of each package bears the establishment number “P- 4205” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the Use by/Sell by date of “10/24/2009.”
  
  

Each case of the Lunch Buddies brand meal kits, subject to recall, can be identified by the case code “9237” and contains approximately sixteen (16) trays. The products were produced on August 25, 2009 and distributed to wholesale establishments in Ill., Ind., Ohio, and Wisc. FSIS has no reason to believe that these products are available for consumer purchase as recalled products were distributed only at the wholesale level; so, none of these meal kits would have reached consumers.

The problem was discovered through FSIS’s microbiological sampling program. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumer questions regarding the recall should be directed to company Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey Gatt, at (586) 758-3080; media inquiries should be directed to David Crawford, Vice President of Marketing, at (586) 859-9039.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.