Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, a firm with establishments in Mount Pleasant, TX and Waco, TX, is recalling approximately 11,240 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The following products are subject to recall:
- 10 lb. boxes containing 2 5-lb bags of Sweet Georgia Brand Fully Cooked Breaded White Chicken Nuggets Shaped Patties
- 30 lb. boxes containing 6 5-lb bags of Pilgrim's Pride Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Fillet with Rib Meat
The Chicken Nugget Shaped Patties has a date code of 11471010 inkjetted on the box, and bears the establishment number P-7091A inside the USDA mark of inspection. Each 5-lb bag is marked with the date code and P-7091A. These products were produced on May 27, 2011 and shipped to distribution centers in N.J. and Texas for further distribution to food service institutions.
The Grilled Chicken Breast Fillet with Rib Meat has a date code of 11801050 and a Use By Date of Dec. 26, 2011 inkjetted on the box, and bears the establishment number P-20728 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The inner bags are marked with the code date and Use By Date. These products were produced on June 29, 2011 and shipped to a distribution center in Ohio, for further distribution to food service institutions.
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 questions about the recall should contact the company's representative, Cheri Schneider, at (800) 321-1470. Members of the media with questions about the recall should contact the company's Vice President of Corporate Communications, Gary Rhodes, at (903) 434-1495.
