Nick’s Famous Bar-B-Q of Nashville, TN, is recalling more than 3,000 pounds of a frozen, ready-to-eat smoked pork barbecue product that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The implicated product was distributed to institutions, including school locations in North Carolina. While the product was distributed to schools, it resulted from a commercial sale and was not part of food provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program.

The problem was discovered by the FSIS during an assessment of the establishment’s production records.

“The FSIS is concerned that some of the product may be in institutions’ freezers. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” according to the recall notice.

The frozen, ready-to-eat hickory smoked pork barbecue products were produced on Sept. 7 and 8 and packaged on Sept. 8. 

The following product is subject to recall (view the label here):

• 20-lb. boxes of “Nick’s FAMOUS Hickory Smoked Pork Bar-B-Q” with a case code of 23452 and a use by date of 09/2022.

The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST. 17863” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 

There had been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions related to consumption of this product as of the posting of the recall notice. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

about Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled product should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.