After launching the biggest food recall in US history, Wampler Foods, owned by Pilgrim's Pride, has announced that its Franconia, Pennsylvania plant has been reopened.
The factory was closed on 13 October, and production of its various lines of processed ready cooked meats resumed yesterday evening. Full production is expected to be resumed by the end of today. The factory had been voluntarily closed following a suspected listeria outbreak that is thought to be responsible for the deaths of seven people. The outbreak led to the recall of 27.4 million pounds of fresh and frozen ready-to-eat turkey and chicken produce.
In a press statement, David Van Hoose, CEO of Wampler Foods said: "In order to most effectively serve our customers, the plant will be operating on an accelerated schedule to build inventories of our core product lines: fully-cooked deli breasts, smoked and cured products, ready-to-cook roasts and deli salads.
"We voluntarily initiated the suspension of operations last month even though no illnesses associated with the Listeria strain in the northeastern US outbreak have been linked to any Wampler products. We have cooperated fully with USDA and its Food Safety and Inspection Service as well as other governmental agencies to review our safety and quality procedures and enhance our Listeria Monitoring Program."
Over the four week period the factory was cleaned and new measures were introduced to improve safety and sanitation standards. Additional training in manufacturing processes, food safety and personal hygiene was also carried out for all of the factory staff. Furthermore microbial testing was carried out using outside consultants to ensure that the factory posed no threat as a source of future bacteria-born outbreaks."
Van Hoose added: "We believe that our actions demonstrate the utmost responsibility, as well as our great concern for consumer health and peace of mind. To that end, we will continue to fully and completely cooperate with the USDA and its Food Safety and Inspection Service to assist in any way we can."
The US Agricultural Department has approved the food safety measures introduced at the factory and said it believed the factory could now safely reopen for business providing all the newly implemented guidelines were adhered to.