Eco-butchery launches major recall for Listeria discovery

Recall: Listeria in sausage of the organic butcher Landfrau
The organic butcher Landfrau has started a recall of three sausages. Listeria could be included in the products. These germs can lead to health problems. The company asks consumers not to consume the product concerned.

Three sausages could be contaminated with germs
The organic butcher Landfrau recalls three of his sausages. As the company explains on its website, the "Listeria Monocytogenes" pathogen was found during a routine inspection carried out by an independent laboratory on the "ham" product (cut and packaged). Because on the same day on the same plant also the "lamb salami" and the "smoked turkey breast" were cut and packed, it can not be ruled out that these were contaminated.

After Listerienfunden calls the organic butcher Landfrau back three of its sausages. The germs can lead to health problems. (Image: Eisenhans / fotolia.com)

Sold in Hofpfisterei branches
Affected are the "Bierschinken" (batch number 16444) and the "Putenbrustgeräuchert" (batch number 16445) with best-before dates from 15.11.2016 to 5.12.2016 and the "Lammsalami" (batch number 16373) with best-before dates from 10.12.2016 to 24.12.2016. "Please do not consume these items anymore," the company writes.

"Landfrau" is the in-house butchery of the Munich Hofpfisterei. The affected products were sold in stores of this bakery and at selected dealers in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

Goods can also be returned without a receipt
Customers can return the affected products to their place of purchase for a refund of the purchase price or in exchange for new goods without presentation of the receipt.

The goods were taken after the finds from the trade. In addition, "the competent authorities were informed immediately," said Nicole Stocker, owner and CEO of the two companies.

Reports of first deaths
In recent times, there have been several reports of evidence of pathogenic germs in food. In the summer even first deaths by Listeria were reported.

Listeria can cause a so-called "listeriosis" in humans. The condition can cause flu-like symptoms such as vomiting, muscle aches, diarrhea, and fever.

For pregnant women, the pathogens can be dangerous
Normally, the disease is harmless in healthy adults, but it may be dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with weak immune responses, including blood poisoning, brain or meningitis. In pregnant women, the risk of premature birth or miscarriage increases.

Avoid certain foods
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), among other things, at-risk persons should not eat unprocessed animal foods (such as Mett) in order to protect themselves. Smoked or marinated fish products and raw milk cheese should therefore be better avoided.

"In addition, consumers can avoid the contamination of ready-to-eat foods with listeria and the multiplication of the pathogen in the dishes by simple kitchen hygiene rules," says the BfR.