Recall Check: Tyson Foods Recalls 8.5 Million Pounds of Frozen, Ready-to-Eat Chicken Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Tyson Foods has recalled almost 8.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products after three cases of listeriosis were linked to the products, including one case that proved fatal.

The frozen, fully cooked chicken products include pulled chicken breasts, chicken pizza, chicken wings, and chicken strips sold by brands including Little Caesars, Tyson, Jet’s Pizza, and Casey’s General Store.

According to a recall notice posted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) the products may contain Listeria monocytogenes which can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.

“Listeriosis 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,” the notice says.

“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.”

On June 9, 2021, FSIS was notified of two people ill with listeriosis, the agency said, and working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health partners, it found evidence through product samples linking the illnesses to precooked chicken produced at Tyson Foods Inc.

“The epidemiologic investigation identified three listeriosis illnesses, including one death, between April 6, 2021 and June 5, 2021.”

The frozen chicken products were produced between December 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021, and shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools, and Department of Defense locations.

The recalled products have the establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. FSIS is urging consumers and institutions to check their freezers for the recalled products.

“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,” FSIS says in the recall notice.

Tyson Foods SVP, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Scott Brooks said that the company was committed to providing safe, healthy food that people could rely on every day.

“We are taking this precautionary step out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with our commitment to safety,” he said.

FSIS said it was working with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm ET Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to [email protected].

For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day.

Do you have any of the recalled frozen chicken products in your freezer? Let us know in the comments section!

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