Check Your Chicken, Nine Million Pounds Being Recalled Over Listeria Contamination

It's one of the biggest recalls in recent memory, the USDA reports nearly nine-million pounds of Tyson Ready-to-Eat Chicken products are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

In addition to being one of the biggest, the recall seems to be one of the most unusual ones too. Originally, the USDA reported the chicken products were shipped to schools through a commercial provider and not through a government program. An update to the recall now says the "ready to eat products were used in additional products produced by other establishments and retailers."

These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations.

Under recall are several products including pulled chicken, diced chicken, and chicken strips.

Adding even more confusion to an already complicated recall, some of the contaminated chicken may have been served through deli counters at retail locations. Recalled products bear establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. However, the USDA says a different establishment number may appear on the label due to further processing.

We encourage consumers to check the FSIS website frequently while we continue to update the labels if we become aware of additional products that used the recalled chicken.

Most at risk from listeriosis are older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Symptoms include:

• fever
• muscle aches
• headache
• stiff neck
• confusion
• loss of balance
• convulsions

Anyone experiencing 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 and product labels are available at the USDA's website.