Recall Announcement  (ODA/ODH)  2001-37

December 31, 2001

Kentucky Firm Recalls Ham Products For Possible Contamination With Non-Food Foreign Material

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2001—Cumberland Gap Provisions Co., a Middlesboro, Ky., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 251,000 pounds of ham products that may be contaminated with non-food foreign material, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products being recalled are as follows:

·         "Olde Kentucky BONELESS FULL COOKED HICKORY SMOKED HAM WATER ADDED,"

·         "CUMBERLAND GAP SMOKED HICKORY HILLS HAM Water Added,"

·         "Martin’s HICKORY SMOKED HAM WATER ADDED,"

·         "CUMBERLAND GAP BONELESS SMOKED MINI HAM WATER ADDED," and

·         "Pine Mountain Brand Mild Sweet Mountain Cure Naturally Hickory Smoked Fully Cooked Ham WATER ADDED."

The recalled products were produced Dec. 18 and 19, 2001. One of the following code numbers appears on the label: "APR0702C," "APR0702B," "MAR2202B," "MAR2202C," "352B," or "353C." In addition, "EST. 8028" appears inside the USDA mark of inspection on the labels.

The products were distributed to retail and wholesale firms in Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio.

"We urge consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers," said Margaret Glavin, acting FSIS administrator. "If they find any of the products listed above, consumers should not eat them, but return them to the point of purchase."

The problem was discovered when the company’s supplier of boned fresh hams notified the company and FSIS that a tampering event had occurred at the supplier’s plant.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Tim Kreiter, senior vice president of Cumberland Gap Provisions Co., at (606) 248-3311.

Consumers with other 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 food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.