Buona Vita recalls frozen meat products over Listeria contamination

Buona Vita, a meatball manufacturer based in New Jersey, US, is recalling approximately 72,510lbs of various frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The products being recalled include cooked meatballs, baked meatballs, baked Italian style meatballs, and baked gourmet meatballs, which were made with chicken, beef or pork.

These products were produced on 26 June 2012 and were sold to distribution facilities across the US under brand names such as Silver Lake, Buon Gusto, Mamma Cacciatore, Pisa Brand, Buono Vita and Sapore Italiano.

The packages bear the establishment number ‘P-954’ or ‘Est. 954’ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The recall has been classified as Class I, which indicates a health hazard situation where there are chances of serious, adverse health consequences or even death due to the consumption of the products.

According to the agency, the problem was identified following a microbiological testing by a third party.

FSIS and the company have not received any reports of illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

This marks the company’s second recall this month – on 7 July, Buona Vita announced that it is recalling approximately 324,770lbs of meat and poultry products after microbiological testing carried out by FSIS and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) identified Listeria contamination.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can lead to foodborne illness known as Listeriosis, and the symptoms of an infection may include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhoea.

The illness can be dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, newborn infants and those with compromised immune systems.

Listeria bacteria multiply in low temperatures, and the outbreaks are usually linked to food products such as unpasteurised cheese, deli meat and smoked refrigerated seafood.