Consumer Alert: USDA Announces Recall of 2 Million Pounds of Poultry Products

On Wednesday, the USDA announced that 2,071,397 pounds of poultry products have been recalled, due to a possible metal contamination. According to federal health officials, Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. had shipped the chicken to a number of schools, restaurants and hospitals, in Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Whole chicken legs, leg quarters and tenderloins produced between October 21 through November 4 were among the items affected. The contamination was discovered last month, during an internal standard inspection. Consumers who have come in contact with the poultry have been advised to avoid the products altogether and return them to the place of purchase.

Although the recall notice states that there “have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products,” this health scare has been classified by the USDA as a Class 1 Recall. The USDA defines a Class 1 Recall as a hazardous incident that puts the public at risk for illness or in some cases, death.

Per USA Today, the company, which is based out of Gentry, Arkansas released a statement on Wednesday, addressing the recall.

“Food safety is a very serious matter at Simmons,” the statement read.”We are working closely with regulatory authorities and affected customers to expedite this product recall.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Americans have had to deal with a chicken recall this year. At the start of 2019, poultry giant Tyson had two separate incidents where contaminants were found in their products. In January, rubber fragments were found in one of their highest selling items. More than 36,000 pounds of chicken nuggets were recalled.

Fast forward to March, and another recall occurs. This time, metal is found in 69,093 pounds of their frozen chicken strips.

Situations such as these could be dangerous, but the USDA has implemented a system to keep the public informed.

If you or someone you know needs to report a problem with meat, poultry, or egg products, federal health officials have an online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System, that can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.