BUFFALO, N.Y. – Tyson Foods has temporarily suspended operations at its Buffalo deli meats plant. Zemco Industries, a Buffalo, NY, deli-meats plant owned by Tyson Foods, previously voluntarily recalled approximately 380,000 lbs. of roast beef and ham in late August that may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall was initiated after a sample of roast beef analyzed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture was found to contain the bacteria.


“Operations at our Buffalo deli-meats plant have been temporarily suspended since [Oct. 12] as a result of USDA activities following the plant’s voluntary deli-meat recall in August,” Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson confirmed to MEATPOULTRY.com. “We’re working diligently to address this matter, since food safety and quality are essential to the continued success of our deli-meats business.”

Deli meats produced at the plant are fully cooked to destroy bacteria and contain ingredients that inhibit bacterial growth. “The plant also uses what we call our Sentinel Site Program, a food-safety monitoring system designed to help us identify and correct any food-safety concerns,” he added.

Mickelson said the temporary suspension currently affects about 480 of the 560 people employed at the plant.