A 2kg pack of shredded chicken sold to hospitals and cafes is the likely culprit behind a multi-state listeria outbreak, Queensland health authorities say. 

The outbreak includes four patients probably infected at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, another patient possibly infected at Redcliffe Hospital in Brisbane, three more patients in NSW and one in Victoria. 

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the listeria strain isolated from the patients and the commercial chicken product — a single batch of M&J Chickens’ ‘easy serve breast fillet shredded chicken’ — were the same. 

“An official food recall is likely to follow but for now, any business or individual in possession of the product should stop using it,” he said in a statement on Monday.