North County markets pull turkey products

By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer | Wednesday, May 2, 2007 10:59 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO -- Managers at North County supermarkets Wednesday said that they had pulled all Diestel ready-to-eat turkey products from their shelves, after county health officials announced that the Sonoma-based company had voluntarily recalled nearly 7,000 pounds of product because of fears the meat was contaminated with bacteria.

County officials, meanwhile, said that local residents should check to make sure they do not have Diestel products at home, and if they do, to throw them out.

They said Diestel products were sold in San Diego County at Jimbo's Naturally, Harvest Ranch Markets and Whole Food Markets.

The company recalled the turkey products because of questions that the meat could be contaminated with "listeria," a bacteria found in soil and water that can cause a rare but sometimes fatal disease.

According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking. But in certain ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination can occur after cooking but before packaging.

Listeriosis, the CDC said, typically affects pregnant women, newborns and anyone with a weakened immune system.

Interim County Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten said Wednesday that in most cases, symptoms of listeriosis include high fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, the early symptoms can be followed by severe headache, neck stiffness and confusion.

Jimbo's managers, who have stores in Escondido, 4S Ranch, Carlsbad and Carmel Valley, said they had received word from Diestel officials Wednesday morning and had removed all their product.

"They (customers) have zero to worry about," Jimbo's General Manager Eddie Garcia said.

Assistant Manager Dave Fletcher of Harvest Ranch Markets said his stores, too, had removed all Diestel products.

-- Contact staff writer Gig Conaughton at (760) 739-6696 or gconaughton@nctimes.com.

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