The contamination was found in a 12-ounce package of Zeigler chicken and pork wieners marked CI USE BY Nov 26 08. The package also bears the plant number P-9156S inside the USDA mark of inspection. The wieners are manufactured by R.L. Zeigler Co. Inc., Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease. The most common manifestation of listeriosis is meningitis, which has symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections to infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems such as persons with chronic diseases or taking chemotherapy for cancer.

“We have notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture of today’s (Friday's) lab findings and we are warning the public about the contamination,” said Commissioner Irvin.

“Our inspectors will be checking store shelves to make sure wieners with these code numbers are removed from sale. Our scientists here at the department discovered this contamination as part of our sampling program. Sampling on a regular basis following scientific protocol is a very important part of our food safety program,” said Irvin.