RECALL On Popular Ready-to-Eat, Fully-Cooked Chicken

Ready-to-eat food makes it quick and easy for busy people to grab something to eat and go.

But some of those fully-cooked options may be hazardous to your health.

The San Diego-based company, Chicken Tarantino Wholesale Foods Distributor, is recalling more than 1,100 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken breasts.

Undercooked chicken can result in the potential survival of bacterial pathogens in the products, according to the recall notice posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The recalled product is labeled as “Mary’s Fully Cooked Chicken Breast.”

The 10-pound cases were produced on Oct. 23 and have a use-by-date of Oct. 23, 2021.

The long shelf life of the chicken breasts has officials concerned that consumers or retailers may have some of the recalled product in their freezers.

To determine whether they have the recalled chicken, consumers and retailers should look for the following label information:

10-lb. cases of “MARY’S FULLY COOKED CHICKEN BREAST” with lot code 20297, use-by date of 10/23/21 and the establishment number “P-8119” stamped inside the USDA mark of inspection

The San Diego company reports distributing the recalled chicken in California to consumers and institutional kitchens.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions related to consumption of these products.

Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them.

These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

The FSIS noted it has a "high" health risk and classified it as a "Class I" recall.

Under the USDA's recall classifications, a Class I recall suggests a "reasonable probability" that "serious, adverse health consequences or death" may result from using a certain product.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

The CDC estimates that salmonella causes around 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the U.S. each year.

And about a million of those infections are from eating poultry that's contaminated with harmful bacteria.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Marcos Tarantino, Quality Assurance Supervisor, at [email protected].