July 4 local timeAmericaTyson FoodsThe company said in a statement that it would recall nearly 8.5 million pounds (3.85 million kilograms) of ready-to-eat chicken products that may have been infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

Tyson said in a statement that because chicken food may have been exposed to a harmful bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, although there is no conclusive evidence that the product was contaminated at the time of shipment, it voluntarily launched the recall process out of caution.

Listeriosis is an infection caused by the spread of listeria from the intestines to other parts of the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSymptoms of serious illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes begin to appear about 1 to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food. Symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, loss of consciousness and convulsions, as well as fever and muscle soreness.

These ready-to-eat products are sold to food service and retail customers and are distributed nationwide. Each package of the affected retail product has the enterprise code Pmure 7089.

A survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that three people fell ill and one died from eating these chicken products. The USDA says the frozen ready-to-eat products were produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021. The food has been distributed to retailers and institutions across the United States, including hospitals, schools and Defense Department locations. Each package of the affected retail product has the enterprise code Pmure 7089. The Ministry of Agriculture advises consumers not to eat these products and retailers and agencies not to sell the batches of products.