A major food safety alert has been issued after a Georgia-based manufacturer recalled thousands of pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken over fears it is contaminated with the dangerous Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
Details of the Recall and Distribution
Suzanna's Kitchen, located in Norcross, Georgia, is recalling approximately 13,720 pounds of its fully cooked grilled chicken breast fillets. The product was packed in 10-pound cases, each containing two five-pound bags. It is important to note that this chicken was not intended for retail sale in supermarkets. Instead, it was distributed to food service establishments including restaurants, hotels, and cafeterias within schools and hospitals across seven states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio.
The affected batch can be identified by the lot code 60104 P1382 287 5 J14, which is printed on the side of the case and on the individual packages. The chicken was produced on October 14, 2025. The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has warned that some of this product may still be held in commercial cold storage and must not be used.
Understanding the Listeria Threat
Listeria is a foodborne pathogen commonly found in soil, water, and animal faeces. Infection, known as listeriosis, poses a severe risk to vulnerable populations. While healthy individuals might only suffer short-term, flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and headache, the consequences can be far more serious for others.
The FSIS and health authorities emphasise that pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at particularly high risk. In these groups, a Listeria infection can become invasive, leading to life-threatening conditions like meningitis, sepsis, or neurological issues. For pregnant women, it can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe infection in the newborn.
Response and Public Health Advice
The recall was initiated after a routine third-party laboratory test returned a positive result for Listeria. Authorities have stated that no confirmed illnesses have been reported in connection with this product to date.
The FSIS is urging all establishments that may have received the chicken to dispose of it or return it immediately. They should not serve it under any circumstances. Consumers who may have eaten the product and are concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider promptly.
Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for an estimated 1,250 to 1,600 illnesses in the United States each year, resulting in roughly 1,500 hospitalisations and about 260 deaths, highlighting the critical importance of such food safety recalls.
