Listeriosis concerns prompt product recall

University Dining Services has suspended use of Wampler Foods meat products because of concern over listeria contamination.

"This is a precautionary measure," said Lauren Robinson-Brown '85, director of communications. To date there have been no cases of listeriosis at the University and no food products identified as carrying listeria have been served.

Listeriosis is a food-borne disease that causes fever, muscle aches and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. It can also spread to the nervous system where it can cause headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. Listeriosis does not travel from person to person.

"At this point in time I believe the risk to be very low and have received no inquiries from any students or parents," Daniel Silverman, director of health services, said in an email.

Samples from the floor drains in the Wampler Foods' plant in Franconia, Pa. tested positive for a strain of listeria similar to one found in a recent listeriosis outbreak affecting 40 people in the Northeast.

Though the results are not necessarily evidence of contamination, Wampler Foods recalled about 27.4 million pounds of meat products that were produced and shipped from May 1 to Oct. 11, extending the scope of a previous recall.

"We are taking these precautionary steps because the safety and health of our consumers is our first concern," David Van Hoose, chief executive officer of Wampler Foods, said in a statement.

Dining Services uses thousands of items, only three or four of which are Wampler Foods products, Robinson-Brown said.

The company's first product recall did not include any items carried by the University, but some products used by Dining Services were included in the expanded recall. Robinson-Brown said Dining Services has decided not to use any Wampler Foods products in light of the problem.

Listeriosis affects 2,500 people per year in the United States, and it kills 500. Newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or certain other medical conditions tend to be affected. Pregnant women are also at risk. Healthy adults and children occasionally contract listeriosis, but they rarely become seriously ill.

Listeria bacteria is found in soil and water, and animals can carry it without showing signs of illness. Pasteurization and standard heating procedures usually kill the bacteria, but it is possible for contamination to occur after processing.

Wampler Foods products are sold nationwide, and the items affected by the recall — cooked deli products — are sold under the Wampler Foods, Block & Barrel, Bonos, Golden Acre and Reliance brand names.

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Wampler Foods has halted operations at the potentially contaminated Franconia factory.

"We will validate our food safety and sanitation efforts by conducting microbial testing before shipments resume," Van Hoose said.

There is no indication from the CDC that listeria will impact other products or companies.

Robinson-Brown said the situation did not pose a significant problem for the University.

"It's more informing the campus as a general precaution," she said.

Presidents of the eating clubs, where about 75 percent of upperclassmen dine, said they did not think their clubs used Wampler Foods and would look into it.

"As far as I know, Tower doesn't use the same distributors as Dining Services, and does not buy Wampler meat products," said Jon Sprouse '03, president of the Tower Club.

There is no 'Street'-wide food supplier, but several clubs use the same distributors, said Tim Szostek '03, Inter-Club Council adviser.

Cap & Gown Club president Matt Groh '03 and Charter Club president Akshay Mahajan '03 said they were unaware of any problems.

"I haven't heard about anything like that," he said.

Dan Hantman '03, Campus Club president also said he was unsure if his club served Wampler products but that the kitchen manager would have taken the necessary precautions.

"If that's the case that we do serve any of those products, it already would have been taken care of," he said.