Recall expanded after additional customers report finding metal in chicken strip products.

Krissa Welshans, Livestock Editor

May 6, 2019

2 Min Read
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Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling approximately nearly 12 million lb. of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strip products that may be contaminated with pieces of metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) announced May 4.

A recall was originally issued on March 21, 2019, for frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strip products made at one location between Oct. 1, 2018, and March 8, 2019, but in recent days, additional consumers reported finding fragments of metal in a small number of products. The company said it is expanding the recall in the interest of public health, even though the vast majority of the products have already been consumed without any reported incidents.

“Consumers expect that the food they eat is safe. In their best interest, and in an abundance of caution, we’re taking quick and decisive action to expand this recall,” said Dr. Barbara Masters, Tyson vice president of regulatory food policy, food and agriculture. “Our company is taking corrective action at the location that makes these products. We have discontinued use of the specific equipment believed to be associated with the metal fragments, and we will be installing metal-detecting X-ray machinery to replace the plant’s existing metal detection system. We will also be using a third-party video auditing system for metal detection verification.”

Masters continued, “Safety is at the core of everything we do. We’re committed to producing safe, healthy food that our consumers and customers can rely on every day. It is unacceptable to Tyson Foods that any product might not meet our standards. Because of these additional consumer reports, we’ve decided to take this precautionary step to make sure that we’re meeting our own expectations and the expectation of consumers.”

Products included

The expanded recall includes Tyson branded products as well as private-label products made for customers. These products were sold to retailers and some foodservice wholesalers and were distributed nationwide and to the U.S. Virgin Islands. These products were produced at one plant location. Each package bears Establishment Code P7221 and a “use by” date from Oct. 1, 2019, to March 7, 2020.

Consumers who have purchased any of the affected items should cut the UPC and date code from the packaging, discard the product and call 1-866-886-8456, Tyson stated.

About the Author(s)

Krissa Welshans

Livestock Editor

Krissa Welshans grew up on a crop farm and cow-calf operation in Marlette, Michigan. Welshans earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Michigan State University and master’s degree in public policy from New England College. She and her husband Brock run a show cattle operation in Henrietta, Texas, where they reside with their son, Wynn.

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