Recall Announcement  (ODA/ODH) 2002-11

April 9, 2002 

MarketFare Foods Recalls Deli Pride Egg, Sausage & Cheese Biscuits Because of Possible Health Risk

Phoenix, AZ- MarketFare Foods of Phoenix, AZ is recalling Deli Pride Egg, Sausage & Cheese Biscuits, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The Deli Pride Egg, Sausage, & Cheese Biscuits were distributed in retail stores in 35 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin).

The Deli Pride Egg, Sausage, & Cheese Biscuits are packaged in 4.4 ounce boxes. All product with a code date of 080243 is being recalled.

There was one reported illness in Florida related to this recall.

The Listeria was found in samples collected by the Florida Department of Agriculture and the U. S. Food & Drug Administration. MarketFare discontinued the production and distribution of the Deli Pride Egg, Sausage & Cheese Biscuits based on the results of the two samples. The company and the FDA are continuing their investigation as to the cause of this problem.

Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions should call Mr. Al Carfora, President of MarketFare Foods at 602-275-5509.