Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-040-2004 HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113; FAX: (202) 690-0460
Autumn Canaday
WASHINGTON, – Whole Foods Mid-Atlantic Kitchen, a Landover, Md. firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,275 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The products subject to recall are:
12 oz.”WHOLE FOODS CHICKEN POT PIE.” Each package contains a best if used by date of “11/02/04.”
10 lb. bags of “WHOLE FOODS Classic Chicken Salad.” Each bag has a use by date of “11/01/04.”
15 oz. containers of “WHOLE FOODS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, SMALL.” Each container has a sell by date of “11/04/04.”
30 oz. containers of “WHOLE FOODS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, LARGE.” Each container has a sell by date of “11/04/04.”
All products bear the establishment number “P-18768” inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The chicken pot pie and chicken noodle soup were produced on October 28, 2004. The chicken salad was produced on October 27, 2004. All products were distributed to retail stores in the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS sampling. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.
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.
Media and consumers with questions about the recall may contact company Director of Marketing Sarah Kenney at ( 301) 984-3737, ext. 2020.
Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.