Expanded Recall of Chicken Breast Strips Product in the U.S. due to Possible Contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (Updated on 1 March 2007)

Background

On 28 February 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the expansion of the list of products recalled by the food manufacturer, Carolina Culinary Foods, concerning fully cooked ready-to-eat chicken breast strips products that might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This is an extension of the recall reported on the CFS website on 22 February 2007.

The recalled product was manufactured for “Oscar Mayer / Louis Rich”. Detailed product information, inclusive of the products in both the original and expanded recall, is shown as below:

The affected products bear the establishment number “P-19676” inside the USDA mark of inspection and a “Use by” date earlier than “28 May 2007”.

Actions Taken by the CFS

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has made an appeal to the trade to stop selling the same batch of affected products and the public not to consume them. The CFS has also contacted the U.S. authority for further details. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and take action as appropriate.

What is Listeria monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes can cause a foodborne disease known as listeriosis. Symptoms after exposure to this bacteria may include fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea but healthy individuals rarely develop symptoms. However, the effect on high-risk individuals like pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immunity can be severe. The infection can result in bacterial invasion of blood and the brain, miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth in severe cases. Listeria are rather unique in the sense that they can multiply in refrigerated foods that are contaminated.

High-risk food

Prepared salads, unpasteurised milk and their products, soft cheese, smoked and raw seafood, cold meats, pate, etc. are regarded as high-risk foods, as the bacteria are more frequently found in them. Susceptible individuals including pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immunity should avoid these high-risk foods.

Advice to the Trade

Advice to Consumers

Further Information

Further information about the incident can be obtained from the following webpages:

Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
1 March 2007

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