Recall: Don’t Eat This Chicken If It’s In Your Fridge or Freezer

Tyson Foods is voluntarily recalling approximately 8.5 million pounds of frozen, fully cooked chicken that might be in your fridge or freezer. Additionally, some of the recalled chicken may have been included in Open Door Service Center's food distribution over the last two weeks.

According to a Tyson news release:

The recall includes Tyson® branded frozen, fully cooked products as well as private label products made for customers. These products were sold to foodservice and retail customers and distributed nationwide. Each package of the affected retail products has the establishment code P-7089.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service say they were notified that two people had become ill with listeriosis. FSIS, working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health partners determined the illnesses were linked to chicken produced at the Tyson plant in Dexter between December 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021.

Tyson says they are voluntarily recalling the chicken out of an abundance of caution and that there is no conclusive evidence the chicken was contaminated at the time of shipment.

According to FSIS the chicken was "shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations."  At this time a specific list of retailers that sold the recalled chicken hasn't been posted on the FSIS site, although you can see the products subject to the recall here, and labels of the products being recalled here.

Recalled products include Tyson's Grilled and Ready chicken breast strips, pulled chicken breast, and oven-roasted diced chicken breast. As well as Tyson Fully Cooked grilled chicken breast strips, fajita chicken breast strips, and oven-roasted diced chicken breasts. Additionally, chicken products used by Marco's Pizza, Jet's Pizza, and Little Caesars are also impacted by the recall.

Locally, Open Door Service Center says some of Tyson's Grilled and Ready oven roasted diced chicken breasts were sent out in the past two weeks with their food distribution. They are asking recipients to throw the chicken out.

The USDA FSIS says the chicken should be thrown away or returned to the point of purchase. They also ask that consumers and institutions that may have received the recalled products check their freezers for the recalled products and under no circumstances should the recalled product be served or eaten.

According to the USDA FSIS, "Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms."  Additionally, the infection can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract.  In pregnant women, the infection can cause severe harm to the fetus, and fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.