27.5 tons raw turkey burgers recalled

Nearly 27.5 tons of frozen, raw turkey burger products are being recalled because they may contain salmonella, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The recall involves Jennie-O Turkey Store, of Willmar, Minn.

As FSIS continues its investigation of illnesses related to this recall, additional raw turkey products may be recalled. As a result, FSIS is alerting consumers to take extra care when preparing all raw turkey products.

About 54,960 pounds of burgers are under recall. They are in the four-pound box of Jennie-O Turkey Store all natural lean white turkey burgers. Each box contains 12 third-pound individually wrapped burgers.

The box has a use by date of Dec. 23 2011 and an identifying lot code of "32710" through "32780" are ink-jetted on the side panel of each box, just above the opening tear strip. Establishment number "P-7760" is located within the USDA mark of inspection on the front of each box. The products were packaged on Nov. 23, 2010 and were sold nationwide exclusively through Sam's Clubs, according to a notice on the Jennie-O website.

Jennie-O is urging consumers not to use the burgers and to return them. "Consumers who have purchased Jennie-O Turkey Store® all natural lean white turkey burgers are being advised to not consume them," said Richard A. Carlson, vice president of quality management at Jennie-O Turkey Store. "We are asking that they return the product to a Sam's Club Store for a full refund. Additional information is available at www.jennieo.com/recall or by calling our Consumer Response Center at 1-800-621-3505."

The recall process began when the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services notified FSIS of a patient diagnosed with salmonellosis caused by salmonella serotype Hadar. The investigation expanded to include 12 people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin who also have been diagnosed with salmonella Hadar infection, with illnesses occurring between December 2010 and March 2011.

To prevent salmonellosis and other foodborne illnesses, wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry, and cook poultry -- including ground turkey burgers -- to 165-degrees Fahrenheit, as determined with a food thermometer.

Jennie-O Turkey Store has created an online resource for consumers with questions about this recall. It can be found on its website at www.jennieo.com/recall.

Consumers with food safety questions can contact Ask Karen, the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline 888-674-6854 is available in English and Spanish and operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. New York time Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.