Washington - Approximately 500 pounds of salami have been voluntarily recalled by John Volpe and Co. because the meat may be contaminated with a potentially lethal bacteria, the U.S. Agriculture Department said.
"Volpe's Filzette Salame" was distributed to Italian specialty stores in St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans. The USDA discovered the problem through its monitoring program.
The St. Louis firm's salami may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria which can cause a disease called listeriosis if eaten.
Listeriosis can result in miscarriages, stillbirths and sometimes fatal infections in people who have weakened immune systems, the USDA said.
Generally, healthy people do not contract the disease or suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
All 1 to 1-1/2 pound packages of the salami with a sell date of "053198" on the packages are being recalled. "EST 978" appears inside the USDA inspection seal on product labels for the affected meat.
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