N. Carolina firm recalls chicken over listeria fear

A North Carolina-based chicken processor is recalling about 404,730 pounds of chicken products over possible Listeria contamination, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday.

The recall, by Crestwood Farms, involves frozen and fully-cooked chicken products packaged under various label and distributed nationwide to institutional customers, the USDA said in a statement.

The recalled chicken was produced between May 3 and June 17 and carries the establishment number “EST. 17400” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The USDA said there had been no reports of illness associated with consumption of the meat that may be tainted with Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeriosis, caused by eating Listeria-tainted food, results in a higher rate of hospitalization than any other food-borne illness. Pregnant women, the elderly and those with weak immune systems are at the highest risk, according to health officials.

A spokesman for Crestwood Farms was not immediately available for comment.

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: July 7, 2011
Last revised: by Andrew G. Epstein, M.D.