In July 2021, CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) began collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data showed that frozen, fully cooked chicken products supplied by Tyson Foods Inc. made people sick.

As of September 10, 2021, this outbreak is over.

Three people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from two states – Delaware and Texas. Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 6, 2021, to June 5, 2021.

Sick people ranged in age from 60 to 95 years, with a median age of 89, and 66% were male. All three people were hospitalized, and one death was reported from Texas.

State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the month before they got sick. All three people were in a long-term care facility or hospital when they got sick. These facilities served many food items, including meals made with precooked chicken.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples were identical. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.

Frozen, fully cooked chicken products supplied by Tyson Foods Inc., were recalled.

Additional products made with Tyson Foods Inc. chicken were also recalled.

Products include chicken strips, pulled chicken, diced chicken, chicken wing sections, fully cooked pizza with chicken, chicken salad sandwiches, chicken wraps, and salads with chicken.

Brands include Tyson, Jet’s Pizza, Casey’s General Store, Marco’s Pizza, Little Caesars, and Circle K.

Listeria:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Listeria outbreaks. The Listeria lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Listeria and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $800 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Listeria lawyers have litigated Listeria cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as lettuce, polony, deli meat, cantaloupe, cheese, celery and milk.

If you or a family member became ill with a Listeria infection after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Listeria attorneys for a free case evaluation.