Chicken chili soup recalled for possible Listeria contamination

Hale & Hearty Soups LLC of Brooklyn, NY, has recalled approximately 455 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken chili soup product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday.

The ready-to-eat chicken chili soup product was produced and packaged on Nov. 9. The following products are subject to recall:

• 6.9-lb. bags containing “CHICKEN CHILI SOUP” with an “Expires:12/09” date.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-34800” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to foodservice distributors in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.

The problem was discovered during routine FSIS verification testing.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse health effects due to consumption of the products subject to this recall. However, FSIS and the company are concerned that some of this recalled product may be in foodservice distribution refrigerators.

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.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Paul Schwartz, vice president of food service, at 212-255-2400, ext. 2025.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, which are sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

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