Tony Downs Food Company, Inc., a Madelia, Minnesota establishment, is recalling approximately 96,384 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically hard plastic, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on March 28, 2018.
The thermally processed, commercially sterile canned chunk chicken breast items were produced on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, 2017. The following products are subject to recall:
- 12.5-oz. cans in a case containing 6 cans of “Member’s Mark PREMIUM Natural Chunk CHICKEN BREAST IN WATER” with lot code 17333, case code 9816 and a use-by date of Nov. 29, 2020.
- 50-oz. cans in a case containing 6 cans of “Member’s Mark FOOD SERVICE PREMIUM Natural Chunk CHICKEN BREAST IN WATER” with lot code 17332, case code 9817 and a use-by date of Nov. 28, 2019.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-65” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail stores nationwide.
The problem was discovered on March 27, 2018 after the firm received two consumer complaints regarding extraneous material contamination.
This is a “Class I” recall: “This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”
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 healthcare provider.
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.
Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Steve Suri, Director of Food Safety, at 507.642.3203 x.1302.
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1.888.674.6854) is available in English and Spanish and may be reached 10am-6pm (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Ed. Note: Emphasis added to highlight the contamination and amounts of wasted food caused by this un-described error during industrial food processing.
