WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2003– Chow Time Food Inc., a Statham, Ga. firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 7,500 pounds of cooked diced chicken breast that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The product subject to recall are 30 lb. boxes of “DOWN HOME FOODS, FULLY COOKED, DICED CHICKEN BREAST, 100-1-30.” Each package bears the code “MFG 3316 A.” Each package also bears the establishment number “P-21200” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The chicken breast was packaged on Nov. 19, 2003 and distributed to one institutional customer in Athens, Ga., which distributed the product to an institutional customer in Sycamore, Ill.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems – infants, the frail or elderly and persons with chronic disease, HIV infection or in chemotherapy.

Media and consumers with questions about the recall may contact Cris Gunter, company president, at 1-678- 753-1761.

Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

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