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FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Contact:
Timon Zander
(608) 798-3261
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Cross Plains, WI -- April 15, 2004 -- Zander's Creamery, Inc., of Cross Plains, Wisconsin is recalling butter and butterine (60% butter and 40% margarine) products, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The only known butter and butterine sold in retail stores is at GFS Marketplace Stores located in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan under the GFS label, in 1 lb. prints, butter cups, continentals, patties and 5 lb. whipped tubs.
The other butter and butterine products were distributed nationwide. These products include individual serving butter chips used by restaurants, butter and butterine cups distributed to restaurants, tubs of whipped butter for restaurants and bulk butter for food manufacturers, primarily under the Zander's and GFS labels.
The recalled butter and butterine products have codes beginning with 043 to 100 as the first three digits.
To date no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with this problem.
The recall was the result of routine sampling by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Food and Drug Administration and the company which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of its products as it continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.
Consumers who have purchased affected butter products are urged to return them to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-608-798-3261. Commercial users should cease using and segregate recalled products pending receipt of instructions from their suppliers.
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