The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a Class I recall of Lemongrass Basil Chicken products from Winter Gardens Quality Foods, Inc. due to the potential that the chicken is contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The recall announcement was first posted to the FSIS website this afternoon.
A Class I recall is made when there is a “health hazard situation” in which “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death,” according to the USDA.
Lifestyle Foods Lemongrass Basil Chicken Recalled due to Listeria Concerns
The New Oxford, PA company initiated the recall of the ready-to-eat, Lifestyle Foods Inc. brand was produced on the dates of June 13, 2016 and June 14, 2016. The precise product subject to the recall is described as follows:
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 recalled chicken has establishment number “P-9815” printed under the USDA inspection mark.
All recalled items were shipped to distributors in Washington, D.C. and the following states: Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Winter Garden Quality Foods notified FSIS that part of the product had tested positive for Listeria; however, no illnesses or adverse reactions due to consumption of the product have been reported at this time.
Listeria, According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
According to FSIS, “[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.”
