In a significant food safety alert, Hormel Foods Corp. is recalling nearly 5 million pounds of frozen chicken products after receiving multiple complaints regarding the presence of metal fragments in food items. The announcement was made by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which operates under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries associated with this recall.
The contamination issue was first identified following numerous complaints from foodservice customers who discovered pieces of metal in their frozen chicken breast and chicken thigh products. Subsequent investigations by Hormel revealed that the source of the metal contamination originated from a conveyor belt used during production. This incident has raised serious concerns about food safety, leading to the nationwide recall.
The affected frozen chicken products were distributed to the HRI Commercial Food Service sector across the country between February 10 and September 19. According to the FSIS, there are growing concerns that these contaminated products may have reached various food service institutions, including hotels and restaurants. A comprehensive list of the recalled products has been made available to the public for verification.
In response to this serious food safety issue, Hormel is proactively recalling approximately 4,874,815 pounds of food-service ready-to-eat frozen chicken products. The company is committed to ensuring consumer safety and is taking all necessary steps to address the situation. Consumers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled items and to dispose of them immediately if found.
This recall serves as a reminder of the importance of food safety measures in the production process. Hormel Foods Corp. is working closely with the FSIS to investigate the matter further and implement corrective actions. For more information, consumers can refer to the official FSIS website or contact Hormel directly.
