Editors Note: The video in the player above is from June 2021.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday almost 500,000 pounds of Tyson ready-to-eat chicken products have been added to a recall over concerns of potential listeria contamination, bringing the total to nearly 9 million pounds.
According to a USDA press release, the department first learned of potential contamination back on June 9, 2021, when it was notified of two people sick with listeriosis. Through an investigation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the USDA learned of three people who had gotten sick from the chicken products, and one who had died.
According to Tyson, all of the affected products were produced in the same facility in Dexter, Mo., between Dec. 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021, and distributed across the country. Overall, 30 different chicken products are affected, all of which can be found on the USDA's website here, along with product labels.
"While the product was distributed to schools, it resulted from a commercial sale and was not part of food provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program," the USDA said.
“We’re committed to providing safe, healthy food that people rely on every day,” Tyson Foods' Scott Brooks said in a press release. “We are taking this precautionary step out of an abundance of caution and in keeping with our commitment to safety.”
According to the USDA, the contaminated products may cause an infection known as listeriosis. Listeriosis is particularly dangerous for older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and babies, and presents with symptoms like fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
Anyone who has one of the affected products is urged not to eat or serve them, but rather throw them out, or return them at the point of purchase. Customers can also reach out to the USDA through its Meat and Poultry Hotline at (888) 674-6854.
Travis Pittman contributed to this report.