Recipes To Live By

DISTURBING PRE-THANKSGIVING ANNOUNCEMENT

(CNN) -- A Texas firm has recalled about 2,600 pounds of fully cooked, ready-to-eat smoked turkey breast products because they may be contaminated with bacteria that can cause a potentially fatal disease.

The products by the New Braunfels Smokehouse were distributed nationwide, including via catalog and Internet sales, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Sunday.

The meat may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, the agency said.

The products subject to recall are:

-- 1-pound packages of New Braunfels Smokehouse Sliced Smoked Turkey, with the package code "2210" on the label.

-- 4- to 6-pound packages of New Braunfels Honey-Glazed Spiral Sliced Smokehouse Hickory Smoked Boneless Breast of Turkey, with the package code "2180" on the label.

-- 4- to 6-pound whole breast packages of Stegall Boneless Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast, with the package code "2210" on the label.

-- 4- to 6-pound whole breast packages of Stegall Spiral Sliced Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast, with the package codes "2180" or "2210" on the label.

Each package bears the USDA mark of inspection and the number "P-975" inside the mark of inspection.

The items were produced on August 4.

 

This news is disturbing for several reasons.  I've had occasion to wear mourning black on Black Friday for a couple of years now.  Saying goodbye to a loved one right after Thanksgiving is something I would not wish on anyone.  It's the worst sort of horror in the world.  Listeria-contaminated turkey has the power to spread the horror!  Hence I duplicate the announcement here.

Adding to my disgust is that this product was cooked in August!  Somehow I suspect that the label on the product does not state, "Cooked in August for your November enjoyment!"  It is not exactly what I would call "fresh" and that is stellar encouragement for cooking our own fresh, preferably organic food. 

This product bears the USDA mark of inspection!  That does not say much for the USDA, or the quality of their inspecting.  The FDA and USDA do not exactly have a stellar history of accuracy and reliability.  Their lists of errors provoke a notoriety that is very nearly unmatched.  It has reached a point for me to run the other way at speeds of an Olympic runner from anything they endorse.  That includes vaccines, medications, and animal products from factory farms.  I support my local farmers.  Their record is notably superior!

Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!