The USDA has issued a public health alert about possible Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in Peter DeFries deli meat. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue, but listeriosis can take up to 70 days to appear. The problem was discovered through routine testing at the Peter DeFries plant.

The sliced roast beef, ham, pastrami, and turkey items were produced between December 14, 2016 and December 29, 2016. They were distributed to Dion’s restaurant locations in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. The deli meats were used on pizzas, salads, and open faced sandwiches. These products may have been available in restaurant locations through January 4, 2017.

If you ate those foods at Dion’s restaurants in those states up to January 4, 2017, monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. If you bought those products from Dion’s restaurants, throw them away.

The symptoms of listeriosis include high fever, stiff neck, muscle aches, confusion, loss of balance, diarrhea, and abdominal pains. Those in high risk groups can get a serious infection from this bacteria. Pregnant women, even if they only have a mild flu-like illness, can suffer miscarriage and stillbirth. If you do get sick, see your doctor and tell him you ate these products.

If you stored any of those items from Dion’s restaurants in your fridge, clean it out with a mild bleach solution. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures, and freezing does not kill it.