USDA Is Recalling 65 Tons of Frozen Chicken, so Check to See If You Have a Fishy Taste
It has been a tough week for the bird. First, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had to remind us not to kiss or hug live chickens, ducks and other poultry , as people doing this have been associated with Salmonella outbreaks reported in 43 states.
Now the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a health warning for approximately 65 tonnes (130,860 lb) of frozen, fully cooked diced chicken products as they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes . Here’s what you need to know about the affected products.
Why is there a review for frozen chicken?
An FSIS inspector discovered a possible Listeria contamination during a routine inspection – in particular, products requiring re-boiling were repackaged without re-boiling. Unfortunately, poultry products that have been similarly exposed have already entered the world and may have ended up in our freezers. On the other hand, as of now, the USDA says there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from the consumption of the recalled frozen chicken.
What is included in a USDA frozen chicken recall?
Given how much poultry is included in the recall, the USDA advises all consumers to reheat cooked chicken until hot. The recalled frozen, fully cooked, diced chicken products were packaged on January 25, 2021, January 26, 2021, March 23, 2021, and March 24, 2021 and include:
- 4 lb. plastic bags containing “FULLY COOKED CHICKEN MEAT ¾ WHITE SETS” Code 13530, Est. number P-18237 and packing dates “01/25/2021” and “01/26/2021”.
- 4 lb. plastic bags containing “FULLY COOKED CHICKEN MEAT DARK / WHITE MALKED” with code 16598, Est. number P-45638 and packing dates “March 24, 2021” and “March 23, 2021”.
You can find the chicken numbers “P-18237” or “P-45638” inside the USDA inspection mark.
The affected poultry was distributed by Big Daddy Foods, Inc. from Houston, Texas and shipped to food banks across Florida from Feb 24, 2021 to Mar 1, 2021 and Mar 29, 2021 to Apr 8, 2021, packed in individual food crates. The USDA Alert provides additional information on specific locations where the recalled chicken is spread.
What to do with reminiscent frozen chicken
First, if you have a fancy chicken in your home, don’t eat it – the USDA recommends throwing it away. Anyone who experiences symptoms of listeriosis, including fever, muscle pain, headache, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures (sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms), should seek immediate medical attention.
If you have any questions or concerns about food safety, you can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), chat via Ask USDA from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (EST) on Monday. before Friday, or email your question to MPHotline@usda.gov .
You can report any meat, poultry or egg product issues through our online electronic consumer complaint monitoring system , which can be accessed 24/7.