Ham that Plumrose made for Walmart has a problem that can lead to E. coli, salmonella
What the USDA called a possible “processing deviation” and a “processing defect” caused the agency to issue a public health alert about Walmart store-brand sliced ham.
The ready-to-eat sliced ham sold as “Great Value Black Forest Ham Water Added” was made for Walmart by Plumrose USA, a familiar name in ham products for decades. And the problem goes back to Plumrose, which was working under the name “Swift Prepared Foods.”
The alert by the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) says: “The problem was discovered when [Plumrose] identified product that did not appear to be fully cooked, which prompted the establishment to perform an investigation and notify FSIS of their findings that the ham was underprocessed.”
Trichinellosis, E. coli, salmonella and listeria are among the illnesses you can get from undercooked pork. As the alert says, if you have this ham, don’t eat it. Throw it away or return it to the Walmart where you bought it.
A public health alert is issued instead of a recall when the USDA believes the product isn’t for sale, but might still be in refrigerators and freezers.
Affected 1-pound resealable packs of the Great Value Black Forest Ham have a best by date of “7/15/22.” The USDA inspection mark has establishment No. EST. 26C.”
The ham went to Walmarts in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
If you have questions about this alert, call Swift Prepared Foods’ Rusty Parker at 479-268-7131.
