The hams, produced August 11, 1994, were distributed up until January 3, 1995, primarily to retail food stores in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Arizona, with smaller shipments to 11 additional states.
In both instances, the glass was found while the consumer was slicing the ham, says Charles Naylor, a corporate spokesman. "We believe that a glass pressure gauge attached to the filling tube must have broken somehow," he says. "And we have made the appropriate correction. We still have the gauge, but it now has a plastic cover."
On March 21, FDL informed the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture of the recall. "Because of the potential for injury, we urge consumers who may have purchased the suspect product to return it unopened to the place of purchase," instructs Michael Taylor, USDA's acting assistant secretary for Food Safety.
The specific hams being recalled are "Dubuque Royal Buffet Ham, Water Added." Embossed on the label side of the can is one of two Julian date codes, 2234D or 2234N (Day or Night shift). "Est. 616" appears within the circular USDA inspection seal on the hams. For further information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800/535-4555 or F.D.L. Foods at 1-800/922-3122.
