To:               Health Commissioners, Environmental Health Directors, Nursing Directors, ODA Food Safety Specialist, and Other Interested Parties

Subject:        Recall Announcement  (ODA/ODH) 2001-05

Date:            February 15, 2001

Ohio Firm Recalls Ham for Underprocessing

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2001– Carriage Hill Foods, a Salem, Ohio firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 750 pounds of ham because the products may have been underprocessed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products were produced on Jan. 30, 2001 and bear the establishment number "EST. 15700" inside the USDA seal of inspection on the label. Products and identifying codes are as follows:

• "VERNON MANOR HAM SLICES" in 5 lb. plastic bags, with a lot code of 9131 and no sell by date. These plastic bags were shipped in 5 lb. boxes labeled "ENDS AND PIECES, HAM WATER ADDED," with a case code of 3201 and a lot code of 9131.

• "Sugardale COUNTRY INN Fully Cooked BREAKFAST HAM SLICES" in packages of approximately 14 ozs., with a lot code of 9131 and marked "SELL BY APR-20." These packages were shipped in boxes of approximately 24 lbs. labeled "BREAKFAST HAM WATER ADDED," with a case code of 0917 and a lot code of 9131.

These products were distributed to the retail level in New York and Pennsylvania.

Some of the products are also being returned from a processing plant in Ohio. (These products were not distributed to consumers.)

"We urge consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers," said Margaret O’K. Glavin, Associate Administrator of FSIS. "If they find any of the recalled products, consumers should not eat them, but return them to the point of purchase."

The company notified FSIS of the problem and initiated a recall.

No illnesses or injuries associated with consumption of the product have been reported. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician immediately.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Ross Jabaay, Director of Product Design and Quality for Carriage Hill Foods, at (330) 430-1666. Media with questions about the recall may contact Phil Whitfield, President of Media Visions, at (312) 274-2322.

Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday, and recorded information is available 24 hours a day.