GLAZIER RECALLS HOT DOGS AFTER USDA BACTERIA TEST

JOANNA RAMEY

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- An upstate New York food processor began recalling 3,780 pounds of hot dogs two weeks ago after a USDA test showed some of the meat used in producing the lot tested positive for the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.

The company, Glazier Packing Co., Potsdam, N.Y., said the meat, which it sent to retailers just before Memorial Day, had already been sold out of stores in anticipation of the holiday weekend.

"We haven't discovered any product that's still on the shelves," said John Glazier, president and owner of the company.

Although his company supplies the large regional supermarket chain P & C and Grand Union, the questionable beef and pork hot dogs were sold only to about 55 small, mostly single-unit groceries, he said, noting that no consumers have reported being ill from consuming the hot dogs.

"We recalled the entire day's production just as a safety measure because we certainly don't want anyone to get sick, and for our own protection," he said.

As part of their routine monitoring, USDA inspectors in mid-April found the illness-causing Listeria bacteria in a one-pound sample of the hot dog meat.

Glazier learned of the positive test results May 30 and began a voluntary recall of the 1-pound packages of its Tast-T Brand Frankfurters and Tast-T Brand Natural Casing Frankfurters. Both products have a June 16 sell-by date and were labeled "Est. 880" inside the USDA inspection seal on the product label.

Glazier said his company typically doesn't warehouse their products, delivering orders immediately instead. The hot dogs in question were delivered on May 17.