USA: Frankfurters Test Positive for Pathogenic Bacteria

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is alerting citizens that a brand of frankfurters has tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can potentially cause illness. A routine sample taken from a 12-ounce package of Curtis Franks made with pork and beef tested positive for the bacteria, said Commissioner Irvin.The frankfurters had a sell-by date of July 3. They were packaged by Curtis Packing Company of Greensboro, North Carolina. It is uncertain how many pounds of frankfurters have this sell-by date or to what areas they were distributed.Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections to infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems such as persons with chronic disease, with HIV infection or taking chemotherapy for cancer.Consumers who have any of this product should return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund.