Pilgrim's Pride Chicken Recall: Some Florida Schools May Have Received Contaminated Meat

By DEB BELT (Patch Staff)

About 4.5 million pounds of fully cooked chicken products that may be contaminated with plastic, wood, rubber, metal and other foreign matter has been recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., a Waco, Texas, establishment, is recalling the products from stores in Virginia and other states, according to a news release from the FSIS, which notes this is a significant expansion from an earlier recall.

The original recall included 13 states, with Florida and Georgia among them.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp, on April 7, initially recalled approximately 40,780 pounds of fully cooked chicken nuggets produced on Oct. 5, 2015. The following product is subject to recall:

• 20-lb. cardboard boxes containing two, 10-lb. clear plastic bags of fully cooked chicken nuggets labeled as “GOLD KIST FARMS Fully Cooked Whole Grain Popcorn Style Chicken Patty Fritters” with package codes 5278105021, 5278105022, 5278105023, 5278105000, and 5278105001.

That recall was expanded once the foreign matter was found.

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 April 6, according to the release.

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.

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 the recalled products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

The chicken products were produced on various dates between Aug. 21, 2014, to March 1, 2016. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “6116 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Breaded Chicken Nuggets Nugget Shaped Chicken Patties” with use by/sell by dates of 10/23/2016 and 03/01/2017, and packaging dates of 10/23/2015 and 03/01/2016.
• 20-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “6145 Gold Kist Farms Menu Right Fully Cooked Whole Grain Breaded Chicken Nuggets Breaded Nugget Shaped Chicken Patties” with use by/sell by dates of 05/28/2016, and 04/27/2016 and packaging dates of 05/28/2015 and 04/27/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “6253 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Homestyle Breaded Strip Shaped Chicken Patties” with use by/sell by dates of 04/27/2016 and 08/06/2016, and packaging dates of 04/27/2015 and 08/06/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “6353 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Homestyle Breaded Breakfast Chicken Patties” with use/by sell by dates of 09/17/2016 and 09/21/2016 and packaging dates 09/17/2015 and 09/21/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “6654 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Homestyle Breaded Chicken Patty” with use by/sell by dates of 05/11/2016, 06/05/2016, and 08/21/2015, and packaging dates of 05/11/2015, 06/05/2015, and 08/21/2014.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “66660 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Hot & Spicy Breaded Chicken Patty” with use by/sell by date of 07/18/2016 and packaging date of 07/18/2015.
• 20-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “69160 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Popcorn Style Chicken Patty Fritters” with use/by sell by dates of 08/19/2016 and 09/25/2016, and packaging dates of 8/19/2015 and 09/25/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “70340 Pierce Chicken Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Tenderloins” with a use by/sell by dates of 09/28/2016, 09/25/2016, and 11/09/2016, and packaging dates of 09/28/2015, 09/25/2015, and 11/09/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing of 5-lb clear bags of “612100 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Breaded Chicken Nuggets Nugget Shaped Chicken Patties” with use by/sell by dates of 07/11/2016, 11/09/2016, and 11/25/2016 and packaging dates of 07/11/2015, 11/09/2015, and 11/25/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “615300 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Home-style Breaded Chicken Nuggets Nugget Shaped Chicken Patties” with use by/ sell by dates of 10/08/2016, 10/09/2016, 10/03/2016, 10/20/2016, 11/24/2016, 10/01/2016, 10/16/2016, 10/14/2016, and packaging dates of 10/08/2015, 10/01/2015, 10/16/2015, 10/09/2015, 10/03/2015, 10/20/2015, 11/24/2015, and 10/14/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “625300 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Home-style Breaded Chicken Strip Shaped Chicken Patties” with a use by/sell by date of 10/16/2016, and a packaging date of 10/16/2015.
• 20-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “633100 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Home-style Breaded Breakfast Chicken Breast Patties with Rib Meat” with a use by/sell by date of 10/03/2016, and a packaging date of 10/03/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “662100 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Breaded Chicken Patties” with use by/sell by dates of 10/07/2016 and 08/13/2016, and packaging dates of 10/07/2015 and 08/13/2015.
• 30-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “665400 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Home-style Breaded Chicken Patties” with use by/sell by dates of 10/06/2016, 07/24/2016, 07/01/2016, 07/25/2016, 08/29/2016, 09/12/2016, 12/02/2016, 12/21/2016, and packaging dates of 10/06/2015, 07/24/2015, 07/01/2015, 07/25/2015, 08/29/2016, 09/12/2016, 12/02/2016, 12/21/2016.
• 30-lb boxes containing of 5-lb clear bags of “666600 Gold Kist Farms Fully Cooked Whole Grain Hot & Spicy Breaded Chicken Patties” with use by/sell by dates of 10/08/2016, 09/29/2015, 09/30/2016, and packaging dates of 10/08/2015, 09/29/2015, 09/30/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “92105 Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED WHOLE GRAIN BREADED CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS BREADED NUGGET SHAPED CHICKEN PATTIES WITH RIB MEAT” with a use/by sell by date of 05/28/2016, and a packaging date of 05/28/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “92430Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED BREADED CHICKEN TENDERLOINS” with use by/sell by dates of 09/28/2016, 11/09/2016, and packaging dates of 09/28/2016, 11/09/2016.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “93406Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED WHOLE GRAIN POPCORN STYLE CHICKEN PATTY FRITTERS” with a use by/sell by date of 05/28/2016 and a packaging date of 05/28/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “94208Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED WHOLE GRAIN HOT AND SPICY BREADED CHICKEN PATTY” with a use by date of 07/18/2016 and a packaging date of 07/18/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “96965Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED WHOLE GRAIN BREADED CHICKEN NUGGETS NUGGET SHAPED CHICKEN PATTIES” with a use by/sell by date of 10/14/2016 and a packaging date of 10/14/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “96971 Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED WHOLE GRAIN BREADED CHICKEN BREAST PATTIES WITH RIB MEAT” with a use by/sell by date of 10/08/2016 and a packaging date of 10/08/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “96973Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED WHOLE GRAIN BREADED CHICKEN PATTIES” with use by/sell by dates of 07/24/2016, 07/01/2016, 12/02/2016, 09/12/2016, and packaging dates of 07/24/2015, 07/01/2015, 12/02/2015, 09/12/2015.
• 10-lb boxes containing 5-lb clear bags of “96978Sweet Georgia Brand FULLY COOKED WHOLE GRAIN HOT AND SPICY BREADED CHICKEN PATTIES” with use by/sell by dates of 10/08/2016 and 9/30/2016, and packaging dates of 10/08/2015 and 9/30/2016.

Additional information on production dates and case codes can be found here.

The products subject to recall bears establishment number “EST. 20728” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped for institutional use nationwide. According to Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. records, schools have purchased products through the company’s commercial channels.

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 products are no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website atwww.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact James Brown, Consumer Relations Manager, at (800) 321-1470. Media with questions about the recall can contact Cameron Bruett, Head of Corporate Affairs, at (970) 506-7801.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atAskKaren.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 can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

Photo: © BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons