RECALL: Listeria CONTAMINATION Rocks Chicken Giant

Georgia food company Suzanna’s Kitchen has recalled nearly 14,000 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken distributed across seven states after third-party testing revealed dangerous listeria contamination that could prove deadly to vulnerable populations.

Story Snapshot

13,720 pounds of grilled chicken breast fillets recalled for listeria contamination
Products distributed to foodservice centers in seven states, including Georgia, Florida, and Ohio
Third-party laboratory testing detected the deadly Listeria monocytogenes bacteria
No confirmed illnesses reported yet, but Listeria causes 172 deaths annually in the U.S.

Contaminated Products Identified Through Independent Testing

Suzanna’s Kitchen, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, issued a voluntary recall after third-party laboratory testing identified positive results for Listeria monocytogenes in their ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast products. The affected products were manufactured on October 14, 2025, and distributed to foodservice establishments rather than retail grocery stores. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall in January 2026, emphasizing that some contaminated products may still remain in commercial refrigerators and freezers.

The recalled products are packaged in 10-pound cases containing two 5-pound bags of fully cooked, grilled chicken breast fillets with rib meat. Foodservice operators can identify affected products by lot code 60104 P1382 287 5 J14 and establishment number P-1382 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The contaminated chicken was shipped to commercial distribution centers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio.

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

— WWAY News (@WWAY) January 19, 2026

Listeria Poses Serious Health Risks to Vulnerable Americans

Listeria monocytogenes represents the third-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in America, claiming 172 lives annually according to CDC data. The bacteria particularly threatens pregnant women, older adults, young children, and immunocompromised individuals who face severe complications from infection. Unlike many pathogens, listeria can survive and multiply even in refrigerated conditions, making contaminated ready-to-eat products especially dangerous since consumers assume they are safe without additional cooking.

Even healthy individuals can develop symptoms, including fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, from Listeria exposure. The FDA confirms that contamination typically occurs during food processing, preparation, or storage in manufacturing environments infected with the bacteria. This suggests the contamination originated within Suzanna’s Kitchen’s production facility rather than through post-production handling, raising questions about the company’s internal quality control procedures.

Food Safety System Prevents Wider Public Health Crisis

The recall demonstrates both the effectiveness and limitations of America’s food safety oversight system. Third-party laboratory testing successfully identified the contamination before confirmed illnesses occurred, preventing what could have been a widespread public health emergency. The USDA’s swift announcement and coordination across seven states reflect proper regulatory response protocols that protect American families from dangerous food products.

However, this incident exposes concerning gaps in Suzanna’s Kitchen’s manufacturing processes that allowed deadly bacteria to contaminate thousands of pounds of chicken products. The company’s reliance on third-party testing to catch contamination suggests their internal quality assurance failed to detect the problem during production. Foodservice establishments and their customers trusted these products were safe for consumption, highlighting how manufacturing failures can endanger countless Americans who depend on proper food safety protocols.