Connecticut Firm Recalls Chicken And Pasta Product For Possible Listeria Contamination

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 11 Oct 2007 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Aliki Foods, Inc., an Old Lyme, Conn., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 70,400 pounds of a chicken and pasta product that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following product is subject to recall:

5-pound boxes containing two 2.5-pound trays of "Aliki Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo Made with White Chicken." Each box bears the establishment number "Est. 219" inside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency mark of inspection as well as a best if used by date of "SEPT 08" printed on the top of the box.

The chicken and pasta product was produced on Sept. 28, 2007 and was distributed to retail establishments in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling at the import establishment. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

According to the company the product was distributed to BJ's Wholesale in Connecticut. All product has been reportedly been removed from sale and the retailer is working to contact individual retail customers. Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. reminds all consumers that they can reduce the risk of food borne outbreaks by thoroughly cooking food.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Department of Consumer Protection, Connecticut http://www.ct.gov/dcp

• Additional
• References
• Citations