Expresco Foods Inc. Recalls Chicken Skewer Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Recall date

August 23, 2017

Source

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FSIS)

Recall number

095-2017

FDA classification

Class I

Sold / distributed

Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Texas

Why it was recalled

Product Contamination

Class I is the FDA’s most serious recall level: there is a reasonable probability that using this product will cause serious harm or death.

What was recalled

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2017 Expresco Foods, Inc., a MontrÇal, QuÇbec establishment, is recalling approximately 20,446 pounds of imported chicken skewer products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes , the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The fully cooked chicken skewer items were packaged on August 9 and 15, 2017. The following products are subject to recall: [ View Labels (PDF only)] 1.31-lb. packages of WEST END CUISINE GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN STYLE CHICKEN SKEWERS HAND-MADE WITH CHICKEN BREAST containing the UPC code 621588314947 with lot codes: 172562, 172640, 172571 and 172704. 1.09-lb. packages of EXPRESCO GRILLED Garlic & Herb CHICKEN SKEWERS containing the UPC code 621588315555 with lot codes: 172563, 172668, 172669 and 172670. The products subject to recall bear establishment number 36 inside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Texas. The problem was discovered by the FSIS import inspector during routine inspection of foreign shipments. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected. Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with…