WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2003– Atlantis Foods, a Lantana, Fla., firm is voluntarily recalling approximately 2,700 pounds of chicken salad that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products subject to recall are 24 oz. plastic containers of "ATLANTIS CHICKEN SALAD WITH ALMONDS & CRANBERRIES." Each package bears the establishment number "P-22044" inside the USDA mark of inspection. In addition each package bears the code "325-3" and the use by date, "12/26/03."

The chicken salad was produced on Nov. 21, 2003, and distributed to retail stores in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

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 company 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 company president Tim DeLong, at 561-582-6089, ext. 12.

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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