Murry’s is recalling close to 20,232 pounds of gluten-free breaded chicken nugget product as it may have been contaminated with Staphylococcal enterotoxin, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Consumption of food contaminated with toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus may cause gastrointestinal illness, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea.

Staphylococcus aureus, found on the skin and in the noses of healthy people and animals, can produce seven different toxins that are frequently responsible for food poisoning.

However, Staphylococcal contamination can be prevented by keeping hot foods hot over 140 °F and cold foods cold at 40 °F or under.

The recalled product is 12oz boxes of Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets bearing establishment number P-516 inside the USDA mark of inspection with a Best By date of 25 March 2016.

The recall has been initiated after the product was tested positive for Staphylococcal bacterium during a routine retail surveillance and sampling program by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

No illnesses have been reported associated with the consumption of the recalled product.

FSIS, which conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall, said that the product was supplied to a company for distribution across the nation.