Pilgrim’s Pride continues recall, taking total to over five million pounds of products

By Aaron McDonald

- Last updated on GMT

Over five million lbs of chicken products have now been recalled by Pilgrim's Pride since 7 April 2016
Over five million lbs of chicken products have now been recalled by Pilgrim's Pride since 7 April 2016

Related tags 2016 2015 Fsis Poultry

US-based chicken producer Pilgrim’s Pride has now recalled over five million pounds (lb) of products between 7 April 2016 to 13 May 2016, confirmed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

The first recall, issued on 7 April 2016, called for 40,780lb of fully cooked chicken nugget products to be withdrawn from shelves. This was followed by a recall of an additional 4,524,980lb of cooked chicken products on 26 April.

On 6 May, a further 608,764lb of products was recalled, and 376,380lb of products were then recalled on 13 May. This takes the total amount of products recalled to 5,500,904lb between the given dates.

According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the recalls came after revelations that the products may have been contaminated with extraneous materials.

The chicken products affected by this recall were produced on 11 July 2015, 15 September 2015 and 16 September 2015. This latest release is being reissued as the third expansion of the 7 April 2016 recall to include additional products and production dates.

The products being withdrawn from this recall only are as follows:
•    25lb boxes containing 3 x 8.33lb clear bags in a box of ‘Pierce Chicken/ Wing Zings Fully Cooked Hot and Spicy Breaded Chicken Wings 1st and 2nd Sections’ with use-by/sell-by date of 09/15/2016 and a packaging date of 09/15/2015;
•    15lb boxes containing 2 x 7.5lb clear bags in a box of ‘Pierce Chicken/ Wing Zings Fully Cooked Hot and Spicy Breaded Chicken Wings’ with a use-by/sell-by date of 07/11/2016 and a packaging date of 07/11/2015;
•    15lb boxes containing 2 x 7.5lb clear bags in a box of ‘Pierce Chicken/ Wing Zings Fully Cooked Hot And Spicy Breaded Chicken Wings’ with a use-by/sell-by date of 09/16/2016 and a packaging date of 09/16/2015;
•    10lb boxes containing 2 x 5lb clear bags in a box of ‘Sweet Georgia Brand Fully Cooked Hot and Spicy Breaded Chicken Wings’ with a use-by/sell-by date of 07/11/2016 and a packaging date of 07/11/2015;
•    10lb boxes containing 2 x 5lb clear bags in a box of ‘Sweet Georgia Brand Fully Cooked Hot and Spicy Breaded Chicken Wings 1st and 2nd Sections’ with a use-by/sell-by date of 09/15/2016 and a packaging date of 09/15/2015;
•    25lb boxes containing 3 x 8.33lb clear bags in a box of ‘Pierce Chicken/ Wing Zings Fully Cooked Hot and Spicy Chicken Wings 1st and 2nd Sections’ with use-by/sell-by date of 09/15/2016 and a packaging date of 09/15/2015.

According to FSIS: “The problem was first discovered after the firm received several consumer complaints regarding plastic contamination of the chicken nuggets. The firm notified FSIS personnel of the issue on 6 April 2016. FSIS personnel identified more affected product types and dates of production after investigating additional consumer complaints of foreign material contamination received by the recalling firm.”

FSIS claimed that there had not been any reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products, but anybody who was concerned about illness or injury should seek expert medical advice.

Consumers who have purchased these products have been urged not to eat them, but should instead throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Anybody with any food safety questions have been asked to contact FSIS’ virtual representative, ‘Ask Karen’, available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov​ or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov.

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