Over 2K pounds of Al-Safa US chicken products recalled over listeria threat

Over 2,000 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken that may be contaminated with listeria was recalled on Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.

The chicken products imported from Canada by Al-Safa U.S. were produced on June 5 and imported to retail locations across the U.S. on June 13 and June 21.

Food Safety and Inspection Service said the contamination was discovered after it performed routine product testing and found 2,010 pounds of chicken products may have listeria.

The following products were recalled:

• 12.1-oz. cardboard box package containing “Al Safa Halal Charcoal Grilled Chicken Seekh Kebab Grilled, Minced, Chicken Patty Kebab” with “NOV 30 25” and “0605404” printed on a sticker on the outside of the package.
• 14.11-oz. cardboard box package containing “Al Safa Halal Fully Cooked Chicken Chapli Kebab Seasoned Chicken Patty” with “NOV 30 25” and “0605416” printed on a sticker on the outside of the package.

Food Safety and Inspection Service said the recalled products were also marked with the number 866 inside the Canadian mark of inspection.

There have been no confirmed reports of a reaction from eating these products, and consumers who have purchased the chicken kebabs were advised to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Listeriosis, an infection caused by consuming food contaminated with listeria, can produce symptoms of fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions and diarrhea.

Listeriosis primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns, the agency said, and it can cause serious and sometimes fatal symptoms.

People at higher risk who experience flulike symptoms within two months of eating the contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about eating the recalled food, the agency said.