USDA announces recall of cooked chicken in Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland and New York

Thursday, July 22nd 2004, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 18 tons of cooked chicken prepared a little over a week ago is being recalled by a Georgia company because they may be contaminated with listeria, the Agriculture Department said.

The announcement said the potential problem, involving 36,980 pounds, was discovered when a private laboratory reported a positive result for listeria monocytogenes on Wednesday.

The recall, by KD Acquisitions I Braselton, covers 14-pound boxes of ``Tyson, Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Filet Fritters with Rib Meat, 3806'' and 20-pound boxes of ``Spare Time, Fully Cooked, Chicken Breast Fillet Fritters with Rib Meat, 3806,'' the USDA said Wednesday.

The chicken was produced on July 13 and distributed to warehouses in Georgia and Arkansas, the statement said.

The company also is recalling 12-pound boxes of ``America's Choice, Fully Cooked, Breaded Seasoned Chicken Nuggets, 07046'' with the codes ``4195P17933'' and ``P.17933,'' produced on July 13 and distributed to grocery stores in Maryland and New York.

The USDA said there had been no reports of illness associated with consumption of the chicken products.

Health officials say listeriosis, caused by eating listeria-tainted food, results in a higher rate of hospitalization than any other food borne illness. Pregnant women, the elderly and those with weak immune systems are at the highest risk.