Pilgrim's Pride Recalls Additional Ready-To-Eat Chicken Products For Possible Listeria Contamination

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, a Mount Pleasant, Texas, establishment, is expanding its recall of ready-to-eat chicken products by an additional 7,072 pounds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced recently. The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The initial recall was issued on July 20, 2011.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 16-lb. boxes containing 8 2-lb. bags of "Pilgrim's Pride Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Breaded Nugget Shaped Patties with Rib meat"

The Chicken Breast Nugget Shaped Patties have a date code of 11531010 inkjetted on the box, best-by date "JUN 02 2012" and bear the establishment number "P-7091A" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Each 2-lb. bag is marked with the date code and "P-7091A." The products were produced on June 2, 2011, and shipped to a retail chain in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The problem was discovered as a result of on-site internal testing at each establishment. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

SOURCE: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service