Edelman PR Worldwide is helping Wampler Foods handle a flurry of press inquiries following an ongoing federal investigation which has said products from the poultry packing giant likely caused a fatal outbreak of listeria in the Northeast.

Michael Schiferl and Ann Koepel in Edelman's Chicago office are among those handling the work. Koepel confirmed to this website that Edelman's is "providing counsel" to the company.

Wampler, a unit of Pilgrim's Pride Corp., voluntarily recalled 27 million pounds of its poultry products over the weekend after the company found traces of listeria bacteria in floor drains at a plant in Franconia, Penn.

The Centers for Disease Control, in a joint probe with the Dept. of Agriculture and local authorities, said yesterday that epidemiologic data indicate that precooked turkey deli meat – the focus of Wampler's recall – is the cause of the outbreak, which has infected 46 people, killing seven, since July. The agencies said one food product and 25 environmental samples taken at a Pilgrim's Pride plant in Pennsylvania tested positive for listeria.

Wampler issued a statement following the CDC report stressing that "no illnesses associated with the listeria strain in the Northeastern U.S. outbreak have been linked to any Wampler products." The company said listeria often occurs naturally in the environment.

Wampler has recalled all of its cooked products packed and shipped since May – the largest recall in the Dept. of Agriculture's history.