Tyson Foods Inc. is recalling nearly 8.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products at risk of contamination from Listeria, according to a Monday announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The frozen, fully cooked chicken products were produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations.
On June 9, 2021, FSIS was notified of two cases of people ill with listeriosis. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, FSIS determined there is evidence linking the Listeria monocytogenes illnesses to precooked chicken produced at Tyson Foods Inc.
The investigation identified three listeriosis illnesses, including one death, between April 6, 2021 and June 5, 2021.
Listeria can cause Listeriosis, which can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.
The illness is treatable with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
Additional information on the investigation may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
There is some concern that these products are still being stored in personal or commercial freezers. Consumers should not eat these products. Institutions should not serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
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