CDC Warns About Listeria Outbreak Linked To Tyson Fully Cooked Chicken

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted a food safety alert this weekend over a Listeria outbreak that has been linked to Tyson Foods' ready-to-eat chicken products. Millions of pounds of the said products are currently being recalled.

The CDC warned Saturday about a Listeria outbreak that has so far sickened three people and caused one death. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), it was first notified of two cases of listeriosis on June 9. Together with the CDC and state public health partners, the agency determined the link between the illnesses and pre-cooked chicken from Tyson Foods, Inc.

"During routine sample collection, FSIS collected two precooked chicken samples from two establishments that are closely related genetically to Listeria monocytogenes from ill people," the FSIS said. "One of the samples was collected at Tyson Foods Inc. FSIS is continuing to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products."

Products Affected by the Recall

Tyson Foods, Inc. is now recalling nearly 8.5 million pounds of its ready-to-eat chicken products that were shipped nationwide to various retailers and institutions such as hospitals, schools, restaurants and even Department of Defense locations, the CDC noted.

They came in various forms such as diced chicken, fully cooked strips, chicken wing sections and even fully cooked pizza with chicken, and were also sold under various brand names. They were produced from Dec. 26, 2020 to April 13, 2021.

"Products were sold under many brands including Tyson, Jet's Pizza, Casey's General Store, Marco's Pizza, and Little Caesars," the CDC said. "The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. P-7089" on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection."

A full list of the recalled products, including the product codes and date codes, can be seen here. The labels are also available here.

As such, the CDC is urging consumers who may have purchased any of the affected products not to eat them and instead to throw them away or bring them back to where they were bought.

People who are pregnant, 65 years or older and whose with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk for developing a severe Listeria illness. In pregnant women, it may even cause premature birth or pregnancy loss.