March 5, 2008

New York company recalls chicken due to Listeria

A New York company recalled nearly 7,000 pounds of chicken and meat products Tuesday while three other companies recalled another 16,332 pounds of a chicken product because the foods could be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria can cause serious or fatal infections in children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. No illnesses have been reported to date, according to the Agriculture Department'ss Food Safety and Inspection Service, which sampled the products.

Gourmet Boutique LLC of Jamaica, N.Y., recalled 6,970 pounds of 12 meat and poultry products, which each bear the production code GBD 08058 on the package. These products, which are mostly chicken but also include meatloaf and turkey, were sent to stores in the northeastern states, Florida, Georgia as well as distribution centers in New York.

Listeria was also the cause of another recall by three importers this week. About 16,332 pounds of Discover Cuisine Red Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice, with a best buy date of Dec. 18 this year, were recalled. The product is sold nationwide.