Long Phung pork products, produced by 165368 C. Corporation, doing business as Long Phung Food Products of Houston, Texas, are linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least four people. The outbreak announcement was put into a recall notice issued by the USDA. There is zero tolerance for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in ready-to-eat food products.

The four people were sickened between July 1, 2017 and October 24, 2018. FSIS was notified of the outbreak on October 22, 2018. On November 19, 2018, whole genome sequencing collected from the Long Phung Foods Establishment M13561 showed that the samples were closely related genetically to isolates taken from ill persons. Officials are working to see if there are more illnesses linked to these products. There is no information about wher these patients live, their ages, or if any have been hospitalized.

As a result, seven products from that company are being recalled. They were produced on various dates from May 21, 2018 through November 16, 2018. You can see pictures of product labels at the USDA web site.

The recalled products are: 16-oz. plastic vacuum packed packages containing a single marinated roll of “Long Phung 1988 GIO LUA” VIETNAMESE BRAND COOKED PORK PATTY ROLL ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE ADDED; 32-ounce plastic vacuum packed packages containing a single marinated roll of “Long Phung 1988 GIO LUA” VIETNAMESE STYLE COOKED PORK PATTY ROLL ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE ADDED; 14-ounce plastic vacuum packed packages containing a single marinated roll of “Long Phung 1988 CHA QUE” VIETNAMESE STYLE FRIED CINNAMON PORK PATTY ROLL ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE ADDED; and 16-ounce plastic vacuum packed packages containing a single marinated roll of “Long Phung 1988 GIO HUE” VIETNAMESE BRAND GARLIC & PEPPER PORK PATTY ROLL ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE ADDED.

Also recalled is 32-ounce plastic vacuum packed packages containing a single marinated roll of “Long Phung 1988 GIO HUE” VIETNAMESE COOKED PORK PATTY ROLL WITH GARLIC SEASonING ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE ADDED; 16-ounce plastic vacuum packed packages containing a single marinated roll of “Long Phung 1988 CHA CHIEN” VIETNAMESE STYLE FRIED PORK PATTY ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE ADDED; and 16-ounce plastic vacuum packed packages containing a single marinated roll of “Long Phung GIO BI” VIETNAMESE BRAND COOKED PORK & PORK SKIN PATTY ROLL FLAVORED WITH ANCHOVY FLAVORED FISH SAUCE.” All of these products have the establishment number “EST. 13561” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

If you have purchased any of these Long Phung pork products, do not eat them, even if you plan to reheat them before serving. They may be frozen and in some freezers.

The symptoms of listeriosis can take up to 70 days to appear. If you ate any of these recalled foods, watch yourself for these symptoms for the next two months: high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, diarrhea, and other GI symptoms. Listeria infections are especially dangerous for pregnant women. If you do start to get sick, see your doctor. Listeriosis is a serious illness that can cause death.