On July 5, 2024, the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Al Safa US LLC is recalling over 2,000 frozen ready-to-eat chicken products due to a possible listeria contamination.
According to the FSIS, the goods were produced on June 5, 2024 in Canada, and were imported to the U.S. on June 13, 2024 and June 21, 2024. Here are the following descriptions of the packages:
- 12.1-oz. cardboard box package containing “Al Safa Halal Charcoal Grilled Chicken Seekh Kebab Grilled, Minced, Chicken Patty Kebab” with “NOV 30 25” and “0605404” printed on a sticker on the outside of the package.
- 14.11-oz. cardboard box package containing “Al Safa Halal Fully Cooked Chicken Chapli Kebab Seasoned Chicken Patty” with “NOV 30 25” and “0605416” printed on a sticker on the outside of the package.
Reports say that the contamination of these meals were found during routine inspection, and thus far, no illnesses have been reported after the consumption of these products. Nonetheless, the FSIS strongly recommends consumers to check their freezers. If someone owns the described product, then it is imperative that they immediately discard it, and wipe down the area it was stored.
Consumption of Listeria monocytogenes can cause a serious infection called listeriosis. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 1,600 cases a year, in which 260 die. This infection is likely to have the most dire consequences for pregnant women and their newborns, people over the age of 65, and people who are immunocompromised.
Symptoms of this infection include fever, flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches and fatigue, headaches, a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and even seizures. Many who are pregnant often only present with the fever and flu-like symptoms, making it a little bit more difficult to identify. This is why it is important to be diligent, and to always keep a tab on recent recalls and food poisoning outbreaks.
According to one national food poisoning attorney, “Becoming ill with an infection of listeriosis can be life-threatening, which makes it all the more important to be aware of the signs and symptoms. Consumers should also be aware of recalls that might affect them by checking such web sites as foodpoisoningnews.com”
