The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is announcing that Garland Ventures, a Garland, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 13,842 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken fried rice products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The product was produced on Nov. 10, 2023. The following product is subject to recall:

• 12-ounce trays containing Freshness Guaranteed brand “CHICKEN FRIED RICE DICED CHICKEN MEAT WITH VEGETABLES AND RICE IN A SAVORY SOY SAUCE” with lot code WK10CFR and a best if used by date of 11/10/2024 represented on the label.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-31993” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.                                

The problem was discovered by FSIS during review of testing results, which showed the product tested positive for L. monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a health care provider.  

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website.

Media with questions regarding the recall can contact Bob Cocat, chief operating officer of Garland Ventures, at 972-485-8878 or bobcocat@ballyplus.com. Consumers with questions can contact Evelyn Tsai or Phoebe Hsu, account managers at Garland Ventures, at 972-485-8878, evelyntsai@ballyplus.com or phoebehsu@ballyplus.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day.

Source: USDA's FSIS