Tyson recalls 8.5MILLION pounds of frozen chicken over Listeria contamination fears at Missouri plant
Tyson Foods recalled recalling nearly 8.5million pounds of frozen, fully cooked chicken over fears of possible exposure to a harmful bacteria.
The products were made at a plant in Dexter, Missouri, between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021, according to a statement released by the company Saturday night.
'We are taking this precautionary step out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with our commitment to safety,' Scott Brooks, Tyson Foods senior vice president for food safety and quality assurance, said in the statement.
The recall includes Tyson branded products and private label products for restaurants - including Little Caesars, Jet’s Pizza, Casey’s General Store and Marco’s Pizza.
Tyson recalled 8.5million pounds of frozen chicken over concerns that they could be contaminated
The recalled chicken is believed to have been made in the company's Missouri plant
A full list of retailers that sold the affected products - each stamped with establishment code P-7089 - will be posted on the US Department of Agriculture's website in the near future.
The recall comes a month after the Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified of two people becoming ill with listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated food.
According to the CDC, an estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die. The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems.
After the FSIS was notified about the two people's infection on on June 9, it worked with the CDC and state public health partners and determined there was could be a link between the infection and precooked Tyson chicken products.
'While there is no conclusive evidence that the products were contaminated at the time of shipment, the voluntary recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution,' the US meat processor said.
This is the full list of recalled Tyson products.
These are some examples of the recalled Tyson products
The FSIS said in a statement that it's concerned that some products may be in consumer and institutional freezers.
'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 said in its statement.