WASHINGTON – Approximately 89,096 lbs. of ready-to-eat ham products produced by Smithville, North Carolina-based Johnston County Hams were recalled due to the product being adulterated by Listeria monocytogenes, according to the US Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

On Sept. 27, the FSIS was notified that a person who consumed the ham products became ill with listeriosis. After working with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health and agriculture partners, the FSIS concluded that there was a link between Listeria monocytogenes illnesses and the Johnston County Hams.

The agency also stated that an epidemiologic investigation identified one death caused by the illness and a total of four confirmed cases of listeriosis between July 8, 2017 and Aug. 11, 2018.

In further investigation, the FSIS collected two deli ham product samples from the Johnston County Ham Inc. facility in 2016 and in early 2018. Whole genome sequencing results showed that Listeria monocytogenes identified in the deli ham in both years were closely related genetically to the Listeria found in the case patients.

The ready-to-eat deli-loaf ham items were produced from April 3, 2017 to Oct. 2, 2018.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “JOHNSTON COUNTY HAMS, INC. COUNTRY STYLE FULLY COOKED BONELESS DELI HAM.”
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “Ole Fashioned Sugar Cured The Old Dominion Brand Hams Premium Fully Cooked Country Ham” with Sell-By dates from 4/10/2018 to 9/27/2019.
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “Padow’s Hams & Deli, Inc. FULLY COOKED COUNTRY HAM BONELESS Glazed with Brown Sugar.”
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “Premium Fully Cooked Country Ham LESS SALT Distributed By: Valley Country Hams LLC” with Sell-By dates from 4/10/2018 to 9/27/2019.
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “GOODNIGHT BROTHERS COUNTRY HAM Boneless Fully Cooked.”

 

The products were shipped to distributors in Maryland, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina and Virginia. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. M2646” inside the USDA mark of inspection.