Tyson Recalls 8.5 Million Pounds of Chicken Products

Approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products were recalled by Tyson Foods. (U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service)

Tyson Foods recalled 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products due to concerns over listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The fully cooked and frozen chicken products were produced between Dec. 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021, according to the FSIS. The service released a full list of the products being recalled as well as the labels of the impacted products. The products were sold under the Tyson brand as well as Jet’s Pizza and Casey’s General Store. The company noted that the recall was voluntary and that only the listed items were being pulled.

“These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations,” FSIS said in a press release.

The FSIS received notice on June 9 of two people who had fallen ill with listeriosis. A follow-up investigation found evidence linking the illnesses to cooked chicken products by Tyson. The epidemiologic investigation determined that three people had fallen ill and one died due to listeriosis.

“During routine sample collection, FSIS collected two precooked chicken samples from two establishments that are closely related genetically to Listeria monocytogenes from ill people. One of the samples was collected at Tyson Foods Inc.,” FSIS said.

The Epoch Times sent a request for comment to a Tyson representative.

“We’re committed to providing safe, healthy food that people rely on every day,” Scott Brooks, senior vice president, food safety and quality assurance, Tyson Foods, said in a statement. “We are taking this precautionary step out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with our commitment to safety.”

Listeriosis primarily affects the elderly, pregnant women and infants, as well as people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis symptoms include headache, muscle aches, fever, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and “convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms,” according to FSIS.

“FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumer and institutional freezers. Consumers should not eat these products. Institutions should not serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” the service said in a news release.