FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Jan. 5, 2007

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Lori Maldonado
        Public Information Specialist
        Office: 303-692-2028

State Health Officials Urge Coloradans to Check Their Freezers for Maverick Ranch Beef and Buffalo Franks

DENVER—The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Friday urged individuals who may have purchased “Maverick Ranch Skinless Beef or Buffalo Franks” at grocery store locations in Aspen, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Durango, Grand Junction or Nederland to check their packages for specific code information as these franks may be contaminated by listeria monocytogenes.

    Individuals who have some of the recalled product should not eat it and discard it. They also can return the product to the place of purchase for a refund.

The products affected by the recall include:

• One-pound packages of “Maverick Ranch Beef Franks, 6 Skinless Franks.”  Each package bears a “sell by” date of 2/14/07,” “2/21/07,” or “2/28/07.”

• One-pound packages of “Maverick Ranch Buffalo Franks, 6 Skinless Franks.”  Each package bears a “sell by” date of “12/27/06,” “1/3/07,” “1/10/07,”  “2/14/07,” “2/21/07” or “2/28/07.”

Each package bears the establishment number “EST. 1106” inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection.  The product was manufactured by Gold Star Sausage Co., Inc. of Denver and distributed by Maverick Ranch.

Food safety specialists with the Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer Protection Division have learned that the recalled product was provided to seven grocery store locations in Colorado.  Susan Parachini, whole food program manager and recall coordinator with the Consumer Protection Division, has been in contact with representatives from Maverick Ranch.

Parachini stated, “Maverick Ranch has been in contact with their customers and is working to determine whether product has been sold to consumers or remains in their inventory.”

Information regarding specific grocery store locations is not yet available, but Parachini said, “It is extremely important that any consumer who purchased the franks check the packages for the USDA establishment number and “sell by” dates due to the serious nature of listeriosis.”

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis.  However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis also can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

For more information, members of the public may call the Consumer Protection Division at 303-692-3620.

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