WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2000--Gold Kist Inc., is
voluntarily recalling approximately 114,000 pounds of breaded chicken
nuggets and chicken patties produced at its plant in Boaz, Ala. The
Ohio Department of Agriculture has reported finding Listeria
monocytogenes on a sample of the product. As a result, Gold Kist
notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and
Inspection Service that it is recalling the product.
The breaded chicken nuggets and chicken patties were
produced Jan. 25 only for the USDA commodity school
lunch program. They were packaged in 20-pound and 40-pound boxes with 10-digit lot codes beginning with 00125 and
Est. P-413 appears within the USDA mark of inspection.
The breaded chicken nuggets and chicken patties were
distributed to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Texas, Colorado, and Ohio.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we
want consumers to be aware of the recall," said Thomas J. Billy, FSIS
administrator. "Gold Kist's actions should reassure parents, school
administrators, and students."
Consumers with questions about the recall may contact
Paul Brower, Gold Kist, at (800) 526-8848.
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially
fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. 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 weak immune
systems--infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic
disease, with HIV infection, or taking chemotherapy.
FSIS has received no reports of illness associated with
consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should
contact a physician.
Consumers with food safety questions can phone the
toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline can
be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.
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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the
FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov
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