Chicken Fried Rice Contaminated With Listeria Prompts Statewide Recall in Texas

Food contamination is one of the most severe incidents that every business wants to avoid. Recently, a Texas company that sells chicken fried rice reportedly discovered listeria contamination, which led to the recall of its products across the state.

Texas' Chicken Fried Rice Recall

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On Wednesday, Dec. 6, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture stated that Garland Ventures, located in Garland, Texas, is recalling 13,842 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken fried rice products since these products may have been infected with listeria monocytogenes. The ready-to-eat chicken fried rice product was introduced to the market on November 10.

There are reportedly trays of 12 ounces that contain the Freshness Guaranteed brand 'CHICKEN FRIED RICE DICED CHICKEN MEAT WITH VEGETABLES AND RICE IN A SAVORY SOY SAUCE.' The lot code for these trays is 595874884, and the label indicates that the best-if-used-by date is 11/10/2024.

The establishment number 'EST. P-31993' is displayed within the USDA mark of inspection on the recalled product. These products were distributed to retail establishments across the country. After reviewing the results of the tests, which revealed that the product had a positive test for Listeria monocytogene, the Food Safety and Inspection Service uncovered the issue.

There have been no confirmed complaints of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these goods. Thus, contacting a healthcare provider is recommended for anyone concerned about an accident or illness.

FSIS worries that certain goods may be stored in customers' refrigerators or freezers. It is strongly recommended that consumers who have bought these products refrain from consuming them. These items should be discarded or returned to the store where they were initially purchased.

Furthermore, FSIS routinely performs efficacy checks to ensure that recalling companies inform their customers of the recall and that adequate measures are taken to ensure the product is no longer accessible to consumers.

Health Risks of Eating Listeria-infected Foods

Listeriosis is a severe infection that primarily affects people who are elderly, have compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns; however, it can also affect people who are not in any of those categories. It can be caused by eating food that is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

In some instances, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues may come before the symptoms of listeriosis, which include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, disorientation, loss of balance, and convulsions. It is also possible for the infection to result in miscarriages, stillbirths, premature deliveries, or to cause a life-threatening disease in the baby if it is present in pregnant women.

Antibiotics are the treatment of choice for listeriosis. In addition, after consuming contaminated food, individuals who fall into higher-risk categories and experience symptoms similar to the flu within two months should seek medical attention and inform their health professionals about what they have eaten.