First off, good for Tyson Foods for recalling plastic-tainted chicken nuggets. Second, why does “extraneous materials” in a Tyson product prompt a recall, but Salmonella in a Foster Farms product does not? FSIS posted a recall notice from Tyson Foods after it recalled 75,320 pounds of frozen, fully cooked chicken nugget products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials. The following products are subject to USDA recall:
- 5-lb. bags of “Tyson Fully Cooked White Meat Chicken Nuggets – 16142-928” with a “Best if Used By” date of “Jan 26 2015” or Feb 16 2015.” The manufacturer codes “0264SDL0315 through 19” and “0474SDL0311 through 14” can also be found on the bags. These products were produced Jan. 26, 2014, or Feb. 16, 2014, and shipped nationwide to one retail warehouse club chain.
- 20-lb. bulk packs of “Spare Time Fully Cooked Nugget-Shaped Chicken Breast Pattie Fritters w/Rib Meat – 16142-861” with identifying case codes of “0264SDL0315 through 19” and “0474SDL0311 through 14.” These products were produced Jan. 26 and Feb. 16, 2014, and were shipped for institutional use in Indiana and Arkansas.
The product bags bear the establishment number “P-13556.” The problem was discovered after the firm received consumer complaints that small pieces of plastic were found in the products. The problem was traced to a product scraper inside a blending machine. Tyson has received reports of minor oral injury associated with consumption of these products. Over the past year, CDC reported a total of 481 persons infected with seven outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg in 25 states and Puerto Rico, and an earlier total of 134 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg in 13 states. Although FSIS issued a Public Health Alert following the second outbreak announcement, no recall was issued despite the chicken products being linked to Foster Farms. Chicken with plastic = Recall Chicken with Salmonella = NO Recall What the hell?!
