The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a list of retailers that sold tainted head cheese linked to a Salmonella outbreak that sickened six people in Louisiana. Stallings Head Cheese Co., Inc., of Houston issued a recall of 4,700 pounds of hog head cheese on January 24 after health officials discovered Salmonella infections in six people who had eaten it.
Head cheese, is a jellied loaf made of pieces of a cow or pig’s head, feet, tongue and heart. It originated in Europe as a way use as much of a slaughtered animal as possible. The Norwegians call it “sylte” and use cutlery to eat slabs of it drizzled in vinegar. In the US, it’s generally eaten as a cold cut.
The recalled products include 10-oz. packages of Richard’s Hog Head Cheese that have ”Use by 2 1 2013″ or “Use by 3 20 2013″on each package and bear the establishment number “EST. 2257″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were produced between November 1, 2012, and December 19, 2012 and and distributed in Louisiana. and southeastern Texas. Consumers who have this product at home should not eat it.
Onset of illness for the six case patients ranged from October 16, 2012 to November 10, 2012. No new cases have been diagnosed, Ken Pastorick, spokesman for the Louisiana Department ofHealth and Hospitals said today.
Salmonella can cause illness if ingested. Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning, called salmonellosis, include abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone who has eaten the cheese and develops these symptoms should see a health care provider.
