Company issues recall, saying its chicken may be contaminated

Friday, July 2nd 2004, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A North Carolina meat processor is recalling tons of frozen, precooked chicken products because of a possible deadly contamination, the Department of Agriculture said.

According to a USDA statement, Crestwood Farms of Mocksville, N.C., is voluntarily recalling 404,730 pounds of suspect fully cooked chicken that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Each case of chicken bears the establishment number ``EST. 17400'' inside the USDA mark of inspection. The recalled products were produced between May 3 and June 17 and shipped to institutional customers nationwide.

No illness had been reported associated with the products, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Thursday.

Consumption of food contaminated with listeria bacteria can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease characterized by high fever, severe headache, stiffness and nausea.

Consumers with questions about the recall can call the company at 336-751-4751.