Memphis, Tennessee-based St. Clair Foods is recalling approximately 26,800 pounds of frozen chicken and dumplings due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on October 21. The products contain milk, a known allergen, which was not declared on the label.
This follows a recent recall of approximately 1,148 pounds of frozen popcorn chicken products by Springdale, Arkansas-headquartered Tyson Foods. In this case, it was discovered that there could be extraneous materials contamination, specifically hard plastic.
The chicken and dumplings produced by St. Clair Foods were packed on various dates from September 13 through October 6, 2016. Here are identification details about the products:
- Five-pound plastic-sealed packages containing St. Clair Foods Chicken and Dumplings bearing package codes 16257, 16264 and 16280.
- Two-pound plastic-sealed packs of the same brand name and contents with package codes 16257, 16264 and 16280.
- Five-pound plastic-sealed packages of Ron’s Homestyle Foods Chicken and Dumplings bearing package codes 16280, 16272, 16264 and 16257.
All items subject to recall have establishment number EST-6568 inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to foodservice warehouses and distributed for institutional use in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
St. Clair Foods personnel realized the problem on October 20 during a review of product specifications. It was then discovered that the ingredient supplier had not notified the company of changes in the recipe that included the addition of the milk ingredient. The producer immediately notified the FSIS that the undeclared milk allergen ingredient was unknowingly incorporated into its products.
There have been no confirmed reports of injury, illness or adverse reactions resulting from consumption thus far. Persons possessing these products should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
Tyson Recall Limited to Two States
Tyson Foods’ voluntarily recall involves 35 cases of 32.79-pound Fully Cooked Golden Crispy Popcorn Chicken shipped exclusively to institutional and foodservice users by a single wholesale distributor in Illinois. Delivery was limited to customers in Missouri and Illinois.
A single customer found a piece of plastic in the packaging of a bag of product, prompting the company to issue the recall. As with the St. Clair Foods case, no illnesses or injuries have been reported.
Produced on August 10, the products carry a case code of 70368/928 on the upper right-hand side of the label, and a lot code of 2236NHL33, which is imprinted next to the case code. Additionally, the label bears establishment number P-1325 inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The product is not stocked in retail stores and is not available to purchase by retail customers. Like items sold in smaller packages or at any retail outlet are not affected by this recall.
