A major food safety alert has been issued in the United States after a significant batch of frozen chicken tested positive for a dangerous bacteria. The recall affects more than 13,000 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken breasts distributed across seven states.
Details of the Recall and Affected Products
The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall on Friday. The action involves 13,720 pounds of product from the Georgia-based company, Suzanna’s Kitchen. The contamination was discovered during a test conducted by a third-party laboratory, which found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
The recalled items are 10-pound cases, each containing two five-pound bags of fully cooked grilled chicken breast with rib meat. They were produced on 14 October 2025. The products were sent to food service operators in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Authorities have provided specific identifiers to help locate the affected stock. The cases and packages bear the lot code 60104 P1382 287 5 J14. They also feature the USDA mark of inspection and the establishment number “P-1382” on the package label.
Immediate Actions and Health Risks
The FSIS has urgently advised all food service centres and restaurants to check their inventories immediately and remove any matching products. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall so far. Suzanna’s Kitchen has not yet provided a public comment on the situation.
Listeria is a particularly resilient bacteria that can survive and even grow under refrigeration. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, it is commonly found in soil, water, and animal faeces, and contaminates food through unsanitary production or storage conditions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that Listeria poses a severe threat to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. The CDC estimates it causes about 1,250 illnesses and 172 deaths annually in the US.
Symptoms of infection, known as listeriosis, can take anywhere from three to 70 days to appear. They range from fever and nausea to more severe neurological effects like headaches, loss of balance, and convulsions.
A History of Recent Recalls
This is not the first recent recall for Suzanna’s Kitchen. In December, the company recalled approximately 62,550 pounds of fully cooked, bone-in breaded chicken products. That recall was due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen (soy), not bacterial contamination. No illnesses were reported in that instance either, but the FSIS warned that products might still be in restaurant freezers.
Consumers and businesses with concerns about potential exposure are strongly encouraged to contact a healthcare provider. The public is reminded to always follow official food safety guidelines and heed product recall notices to protect their health.
