A significant food safety alert has been issued concerning the recall of nearly 14,000 pounds of ready-made chicken distributed across seven states. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the Class I recall, the highest risk level, on January 16, after the chicken tested positive for Listeria, a bacteria known to cause severe foodborne infections.

The affected product, manufactured by Suzanna’s Kitchen of Norcross, Georgia, includes fully cooked grilled chicken breast fillets with rib meat. The recalled quantity totals 13,720 pounds, identifiable by the packaging in 10-lb cases containing two 5-lb bags, with a specific Lot code: 60104 P1382 287 5 J14 and Establishment number: P-1382.

Distribution of this contaminated chicken was limited to foodservice providers, such as restaurants and cafeterias, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio. Consumers are therefore unlikely to have this product in their homes, eliminating the need for residential checks.

Listeria is a potentially deadly yet relatively rare cause of foodborne illness, though fortunately, no confirmed reports of illness have been linked to this recall so far. FSIS advises individuals concerned about a potential Listeria infection to contact a healthcare provider. Common symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.