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Who owns Tyson Foods? Over 8.5M pounds of chicken products recalled over listeria contamination

Meat processor Tyson Foods is recalling 8.5M pounds of chicken products amid fears of listeria contamination at its Missouri plant

Tyson Foods Inc., the world's second-largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork after JBS SA, is recalling approximately 8.5M pounds of chicken products that might be infected with dangerous germs, according to the firm and government regulators, news outlets reported on Sunday, June 4.

In a similar incident this February, the FDA increased its initial dog food recall after 70 pooches died and 80 fell sick due to poisoning after eating Sportmix pet food. In June last year, a contaminated salad mix sold under various brand names at ALDI, HY-Vee, Jewel-Osco and Walmart left at least 200 people across eight states sick with an infection and the product was recalled after a CDC warning.

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The recall, which is one of the largest the US Department of Agriculture has issued in recent years, includes everything from boneless, skinless breasts to fajita strips. The chicken might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, which has classed the recall as high risk.

According to a statement published by the company on the night of Saturday, June 3, the goods were manufactured at a factory in Dexter, Missouri, between December 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021, the Daily Mail reported. In the statement, Scott Brooks, Tyson Foods senior vice president for food safety and quality assurance, said: "We are taking this precautionary step out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with our commitment to safety."

"The products subject to recall bear establishment number 'EST. P-7089' on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations," the statement added.

The USDA has published a list of the recalled chicken items, along with their labels. Tyson branded items, as well as restaurant private label products, are being recalled, including Little Caesars, Jet's Pizza, Casey's General Store and Marco's Pizza. In the near future, the US Department of Agriculture will publish a complete list of shops that sold the recalled items, each with the establishment code P-7089.

Fever, headache, body soreness, loss of balance, stiff neck, disorientation, loss of senses, and gastrointestinal symptoms are all signs of listeriosis, a foodborne bacterial illness. According to the CDC, around 1,600 people are affected with listeriosis each year, with about 260 of them dying. Pregnant women and their babies, individuals 65 and older and those with weak immune systems are the most vulnerable to the illness. 

The recall was issued after the USDA received notification on June 9 about two people who had contracted listeriosis, the Wall Street Journal reported. Between April 6 and June 5, the agency discovered three listeriosis infections, one of which resulted in death. The USDA said two chicken samples taken during the study had germs that were closely similar to the strains linked to the illnesses, out of which one was collected at Tyson Foods.

The US meat processor said, however: "While there is no conclusive evidence that the products were contaminated at the time of shipment, the voluntary recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution." The FSIS expressed concern that some items may be in consumer and institutional freezers. "Consumers should not eat these products. Institutions should not serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase," they said in a statement.