NEW YORK, Jan 20: A Georgia-based food company has recalled nearly 13,720 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken products after tests revealed possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced.

A recall has been issued for fully cooked grilled chicken breast fillets with rib meat produced on October 14, 2025. The products were packed in 10-pound cases containing two 5-pound bags and distributed to food service establishments in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio. The chicken was sold to restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and catering services, and was not intended for retail sale in grocery stores.

The recall was prompted after a third-party laboratory reported a positive Listeria test on the chicken fillets. The USDA said some of the products may still be in commercial cold storage and must not be served, and they should either be disposed of or returned. The affected lot code is 60104 P1382 287 5 J14, marked on both the case and the package.

No illnesses have been linked to the recalled products so far, but health officials encouraged anyone concerned about exposure to contact a healthcare provider.

Listeria is a foodborne bacterium commonly found in soil, water, sewage, vegetation, and animals. It can survive and multiply even in refrigerated products. Contamination usually occurs when food is harvested, processed, prepared, packed, transported, or stored in environments exposed to bacteria, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Listeriosis, the illness caused by Listeria, is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms in healthy individuals are often mild, including fever, muscle aches, headache, and sometimes diarrhea, but severe infections can lead to meningitis, sepsis, neurological complications, or death. In pregnant women, Listeria can cross the placental barrier, potentially causing miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria infections are the third-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, causing an estimated 1,250 to 1,600 illnesses, around 1,500 hospitalizations, and roughly 260 deaths annually.

Officials stressed that proper handling, monitoring, and removal of contaminated products are critical to preventing outbreaks and protecting public health.