Georgia Injury Attorney Blog

Customers of Starbucks coffee shops in Georgia and Alabama may have purchased Listeria contaminated chicken products between July 13 and July 15, 2011. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a press release announcing that 204 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken wraps and chicken “bistro” boxes were being recalled because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogens, a bacterial pathogen known to cause food poisoning and a foodborne illness known as Listeriosis. The recalled chicken products were produced on July 13, 2011 by Flying Food Group, LLC, a food company based in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Products being recalled are as follows:

• 8.4 ounce packages of “Starbucks Chipolte Chicken Wraps Bistro Box”
• 6.3 ounce packages of “Starbucks Chicken & Hummus Bistro Box”

Starbucks has issued its own press release acknowledging that it received and may have sold some of the Listeria tainted chicken products being recalled to customers in Georgia and Alabama between July 13 and July 15, 2011.

To date, there are no reported cases of Listeria food poisoning by a Georgia or Alabama customer who may have consumed these contaminated chicken products. However, Listeria has a relatively long incubation period and it could take several days or several weeks before an infected consumer becomes sick. The initial symptoms of Listeria food poisoning are usually fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. Listeria infection can spread to the central nervous system and cause headaches, stiff neck, lack of balance, and disorientation. Anyone who has consumed these recalled products and experiences these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Listeria infection is especially dangerous during pregnancy because it can cause miscarriage or still birth. In rare cases, Listeriosis can be severe and require hospitalization. There are about 500 fatal cases of Listeriosis in the United States every year.