Chicken Recalled Over Listeria Concerns Was Sold in Kroger, Aldi, and More Stores

Chicken sold in grocery stores and restaurants around the country has been recalled for possible listeria contamination.

Tip Top Poultry Inc., of Rockmart, Georgia, issued the recall last month for frozen, cooked, diced, or shredded chicken. The chicken—which was sold under various brand names at Kroger, Aldi, Piggly Wiggly, Jersey Mike’s, and many other businesses nationwide—was positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes after being tested in Canada, according to The US Department of Agriculture. Find an updated list of affected products here.

The recall was expanded Tuesday, October 8, to include more products.

The USDA classified the recall as class 1, according to Business Insider, is defined as "a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences, or death."

Food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a disease that can cause symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea, or other gastrointestinal symptoms, according to the USDA.

This infection primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. In some cases, though, people outside these groups can be affected.

Products affected were produced from January 21, 2019 through September 24, 2019. Their packaging displays product codes ranging from 10000 to 19999 and 70000 to 79999.

While there have been no confirmed reports of any illnesses related to the recalled products, it’s important to check your chicken and immediately throw out anything that might be affected.