WASHINGTON – Houston-based Stallings Head Cheese Co., Inc. recalled 4,700 lbs. of hog head cheese after the product was linked to several cases of Salmonella infection, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Hog head cheese products were linked to six cases of Salmonella infections in Louisiana. FSIS linked the illnesses to the hog head cheese produced at Stallings through epidemiologic and traceback investigations, the agency said.

“Illness onset dates among the case-patients ranged from Oct. 16, 2012 to Nov. 10, 2012,” FSIS reported. “Four case-patients confirmed eating the brand under recall.

“Leftover RTE product from consumers was not available for testing,” FSIS said. “However, retail samples of like product from different production dates underwent testing last week, and four of nine samples tested positive for Salmonella.”

The products subject to recall include:

• 10-oz. packages of “Richard’s Hog Head Cheese” bearing establishment number “EST. 2257” inside the USDA mark of inspection and sell by dates “Use by 2 1 2013” or “Use by 3 20 2013”on each package.

FSIS said the affected products were produced on Nov. 1, 2012, and Dec. 19, 2012 and shipped to a distribution center for retail distribution in Louisiana and Southeastern Texas.