Tyson Foods is recalling close to 8.5 million pounds of its frozen chicken that may have been contaminated with listeria, the Agriculture Department said.
Investigators at the Agriculture Department were notified last month that two people had been sickened with listeriosis, an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Tyson Foods then issued a recall of its meat voluntarily, The New York Times reported.
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The department released a statement about the incident on Saturday, which stated that an investigation found evidence linking the two cases to frozen chicken from Tyson Foods. Investigators have since identified three cases that were all connected to the products the company recalled. In addition, there has been one death related to the recall so far.
Recalled products include frozen, fully cooked chicken produced between December and April. The products were chicken strips, chicken pizza, and pulled chicken breasts sold under brand names, including Tyson, Jet’s Pizza, and Casey’s General Store.
According to the Agriculture Department, the packages that have been recalled have the “establishment code” P-7809 printed on them.
Tyson Foods has since released a statement that the products were all produced in a Dexter, Missouri plant. From there, the recalled products were distributed to stores, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and other locations, according to the Agriculture Department.
“We’re committed to providing safe, healthy food that people rely on every day,” Scott Brooks, senior vice president for food safety and quality assurance at Tyson Foods, said in the statement. “We are taking this precautionary step out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with our commitment to safety.”
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The department is urging people to throw away or return any products that may contain the recalled chicken. They are also continuing to investigate whether or not other listeriosis cases are connected to the recalled products.
Anyone who may have consumed the recalled products should be cautious of listeriosis symptoms including, fever, convulsions, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues. Those most at risk include pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms tend to develop one to four weeks after eating food contaminated with listeria.
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