Around 2 million pounds of chicken have been recalled because the poultry may be reportedly contaminated with inappropriate materials specifically metal according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The USDA has stated that the Simmons Prepared Foods based in Gentry, Arkansas has recalled several of its ready-to-cook chicken products which include chicken legs, wings and whole chickens. The USDA has even posted labels of the affected chicken products on www.fsis.usda.gov.
The notice that was provided says that the chicken had been shipped to several institutions in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. These institutions may include restaurants, schools, hospitals and distributors however the recall does not involve the chicken sold to stores.
The company has given a statement saying that food safety is a very serious matter at Simmons as it has issued a precautionary and voluntary recall of approximately 2 million pounds of fresh and frozen chicken products. They have been working closely with regulatory authorities and affected customers to accelerate the product recall. The recall notice states that there were concerns that some products may be frozen and in institutional freezers and has advised institutions not to serve the products.
The USDA has classified the recall as Class I which means that it is a health hazard situation where there is a rational probability that the use of the product would cause serious and adverse health consequences or even death. In its statement, Simmons has said that the company discovered the issue through standard food safety and quality checks and that there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of the products.
According to the USDA, anyone having a concern about an injury or illness should contact a health care provider and that consumers with questions about the recall should call the company at their helpline.
Dylan Robb who is a consumer watchdog associate with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund has said in a statement that Simmons was taking the correct action by initiating this recall.
Robb has also said that the only time he would feel a crunch when he bites into a piece of chicken would be when it has been fried and that the consumers shouldn’t have to worry whether the food being consumed contains inedible and potentially harmful materials.
Naira Shekhawat has been into Content Writing just after completing her Graduation in English Literature. Her love for words has won her many accolades in her respective jobs ever since. Naira covers business sections for VMR News. She is a traveller by heart and loves writing on food blogs as a freelancer.