About 4,000 pounds of cooked chicken breasts is being recalled because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. The recall affects 18- to 22-pound boxes of two 9- to 11-pound House of Raeford Farms “boneless oven roast chicken breasts” per box.

The recalled meat is in packages with the serial number P-239A inside and the USDA mark of inspection along with the product code of 94268 and a package date of 1270 (September 27, 2011). The meat was sold at delicatessens and food service institutes for further processing in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The listeria contamination was found in laboratory samples of the chicken. To date, no reports of illnesses after consuming these meats have been made to either the Food Safety Inspection Service or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. In extreme cases, listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in people with compromised immune systems.

The best way to avoid becoming infected by Listeria is to wash your hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat or poultry. Cutting boards, utensils and dishes that touch raw meat should also be cleaned with hot, soapy water. Separate cutting boards should also be used for raw meat, poultry, vegetables and egg products to prevent cross-contamination.

Consumers who believe they have been sickened by the meat should contact their doctors.

Source: CNN