USDA announces recall for chicken shipped to North Carolina

From USDA:

WINTER GARDENS QUALITY FOODS, INC. RECALLS LEMONGRASS BASIL CHICKEN PRODUCTS DUE TO POSSIBLE LISTERIA CONTAMINATION

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2016 – Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc., a New Oxford, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 42 pounds of Lemongrass Basil Chicken entrées that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ready-to-eat, Lifestyle Foods Inc. brand of Lemongrass Basil Chicken product was produced on June 13 and June 14, 2016. The following product is subject to recall:

8.0-oz. (227g) individually wrapped entrée packages labeled “Lifestyle Foods Lemongrass Basil Chicken Entrée – Brown Rice in a Thai Style Sauce with Grilled Chicken and Green Beans.” The product has “Enjoy By” dates of June 28, 2016 and June 29, 2016.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-9815” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

The problem was discovered when Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc. notified FSIS that a component of the product had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience 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.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

FSIS advises all consumers to reheat ready-to-eat product until steaming hot.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Ray Lopez, Customer Service at (877) 647-1878.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.