Tennessee Firm Recalls Chicken Products for Possible Listeria Contamination

WASHINGTON — State of Tennessee Cook Chill, a Nashville, Tenn., firm, is voluntarily recalling more than 2,700 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced June 29.

The following products are subject to recall:

• Cases of "BAKED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS" Each case bears the case code "D257168C" and the establishment number "P-19120" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
• Cases of "OVEN FRIED BREADED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS, smoke flavor added." Each case bears the case code "D257154C" and the establishment number "P-19120" inside the USDA seal of inspection.

The chicken products were produced on April 25, and were distributed to correctional and mental health institutions in Tennessee. There was no retail distribution of these products.

The problem was discovered through company testing and FSIS inspection activities. FSIS said it has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis also can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.