FSIS issues health alert for poultry products over contamination concerns

The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for nearly 130,860lb of frozen, fully cooked, diced chicken products over possible listeria contamination.

FSIS noted that the frozen, fully cooked, diced chicken items were packed on 25 and 26 January 2021, as well as 23 and 24 March 2021.

The products that are subject to the health alert include 4lb plastic bags containing ‘fully cooked chicken meat ¾ diced white’ and another 4lb plastic bags with ‘fully cooked chicken meat dark/white ¾ diced’.

The products have establishment numbers of ‘P-18237’ or ‘P-45638’ within the USDA mark of inspection.

FSIS said that they were distributed by Texas-based company Big Daddy Foods.

The products were distributed to consumers in individual food boxes at local food banks in Florida, under the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box programme.

The problem was identified by FSIS during its routine inspection activities. The personnel observed products requiring re-cooking due to possible Lm contamination were repacked without being recooked.

So far, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products.

FSIS has asked consumers not to consume these products and advised that anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Separately, Illinois-based establishment Otten’s Seafood recalled nearly 46,804lb of Siluriformes fish (catfish) as they were produced and distributed without the benefit of FSIS inspection.

Products subject to recall were shipped to wholesale and retail locations in Illinois and Indiana.

The issue was identified by FSIS during its routine surveillance activities. The personnel identified that the catfish products did not have the USDA mark of inspection and were produced in an establishment not inspected by the department.