Georgia food company Suzanna’s Kitchen voluntarily recalled nearly 14,000 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products after third-party testing revealed deadly listeria contamination that could kill vulnerable Americans.
Story Highlights
13,720 pounds of grilled chicken breast fillets were recalled across seven states for Listeria contamination
Products are distributed to foodservice centers, not retail stores, making consumer awareness challenging
Listeria survives refrigeration and ranks as the third-leading cause of foodborne illness deaths in America
No confirmed illnesses reported yet, but vulnerable populations face severe health risks
Recall Targets Commercial Food Operations
Suzanna’s Kitchen issued a voluntary recall for approximately 13,720 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast fillet products produced on October 14, 2025. The Norcross, Georgia-based company distributed these 10-pound cases containing two 5-pound bags of cooked chicken to foodservice centers across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio. Unlike typical retail recalls, these products reached restaurants, schools, and institutional kitchens where consumers have no direct visibility into ingredient sourcing.
A Georgia-based food company has recalled thousands of pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products, which were sold in seven different states, after determining the products may have been contaminated with listeria. https://t.co/4ipgY5Mpvv
The recall was triggered after third-party laboratory testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in the chicken products. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall, identifying products with lot code 60104 P1382 287 5 J14 and establishment number P-1382 inside the USDA mark. This discovery highlights the critical role of independent testing in catching contamination that could slip through initial inspection processes, protecting Americans from potential food poisoning outbreaks.
FSIS urged foodservice operators to immediately check their commercial refrigerators and freezers for the recalled products. The agency emphasized that no confirmed illnesses have been reported in connection with these products, but stressed the importance of proper disposal to prevent potential health complications. CBS News reached out to Suzanna’s Kitchen for comment but received no response from company representatives.
Listeria Poses Deadly Threat to Vulnerable Americans
Listeria monocytogenes represents a serious public health threat, particularly for pregnant women, elderly individuals, young children, and immunocompromised Americans. The CDC estimates this bacterium causes approximately 1,250 cases annually and ranks as the third-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, claiming roughly 172 lives each year. The pathogen survives refrigeration and can contaminate food during harvesting, processing, packaging, transport, or storage phases.
Symptoms of listeria infection include fever, headache, nausea, and muscle aches, with severe cases potentially leading to meningitis or blood infections. This recall underscores persistent vulnerabilities in America’s food processing system, where ready-to-eat products face contamination risks that could harm families nationwide. The voluntary nature of this recall demonstrates industry responsibility, but raises questions about inspection frequency and safety protocols in commercial food production facilities.
