Tyson Recalls 172 Tons of Meat Sold to Wal-Mart

by Jennifer Lawinski, Posted Aug 25th 2010 @ 1:00PM

ham cold cut sandwich Photo: WR276, Flickr

Zemco Industries, a division of Tyson Foods, is recalling about 380,000 pounds -- 172 metric tons -- of deli meat it sold to Wal-Mart Stores because it may be contaminated with a deadly bacteria.

The meat, produced between June 18 to July 2, with "Use By" dates ranging from Aug. 20 to Sept. 10, is being recalled for possible Lysteria monocytogenes contamination, Bloomberg News reported.

The meats were distributed to delis that then used them to make some "Marketside Grab and Go" deli sandwiches.

None was sold in individual packages, and Wal-Mart is the only company to receive the recalled meat, Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson told Bloomberg.

"The recall is being conducted as a precaution," he said.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, which announced the recall yesterday, the meat was shipped nationwide, but no illnesses have been reported.

Listeria can cause listeriosis, a disease marked by fever, headache, neck stiffness and nausea which can result in death, Bloomberg reported.

The meat was used in the Ham and Swiss Sandwich, Italian Hero Sandwich, Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich, and Smokehouse Hero Sandwich, Wal-Mart said in a statement, and customers can return them for a full refund.

"The safety of customers is a top priority at Walmart, and that includes offering safe, high quality foods," the company said.

Filed Under: Recalls
Tags: deli meat recall, featured, Lysteria, meat recall, walmart