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November 14, 2008

Local stores participate in hot dog recall

By Patrick McCreless

staff writer

A recent massive recall of hot dogs possibly contaminated with bacteria has affected grocery stores across Alabama, including those in Cullman County.

The Zeigler Company, based in Selma, announced on Nov. 8 it would recall more than 28,000 pounds of hot dog products from grocery stores in Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The hot dogs in question were produced on Sept. 22.

Jim Hampton, manager of Warehouse Discount Groceries in Cullman said the hot dog products were removed from his store on Tuesday.

“Zeigler representatives have already been by and took care of it,” Hampton said. “They took all the stock.”

Hampton added that his store has not received any fresh Zeigler products.

“We’ve pulled it (Zeigler) back from our ad in the paper for the coming week,” Hampton said.

Wayne Howard, assistant manager for the Cullman Wal-Mart Super Center, said his business took care of the hot dogs shortly after the recall was announced.

“We’re real quick about that,” Howard said. “It’s all been removed. And right now anything with that same product bar-code is blocked. There’s absolutely no way it could go out of here.”

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease.

“It’s a naturally occurring bacteria found in soil and water,” said Mark Sestak, director of food and lodging for ADPH. “For healthy folks, it’s not really an issue.”

However, listeriosis can cause miscarriages and still births in pregnant women as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems such as infants and the elderly.

Sestak noted that the bacteria can be killed if the hot dogs are cooked properly.

“You need to get them steaming hot,” Sestak said.

To date, there have been no reports of infection related to the hot dogs sent to the ADPH.

While other local grocery stores had to deal with the recall, Allen Bynum, manager of Piggly Wiggly on Alabama Highway 157 said his employees did not have to lift a finger.

“Our warehouse does not carry any of that product,” Bynum said.

Customers with questions about the recall should contact Zeigler Company Controller Ken Fitzgerald at 1-800-392-6328.



‰ Contact Patrick McCreless by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.

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