Almost two tons of P.F. Chang’s brand frozen chicken and beef entrées may contain metal fragments and are being recalled from retailers and distributors in at least seven states.
“The metal fragments range in size between 2 and 9 millimeters in diameter, and are curled, malleable and shiny. The metal fragments may be embedded in the sauce contained within the frozen entrée products,” according to the recall notice on the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website. ConAgra Foods Inc., based in Russellville, AR, produced the 3,860 pounds of recalled P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand Signature Spicy Chicken and P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand Mongolian Style Beef on June 13 and June 22. “The problem was discovered July 1 when an establishment employee observed metal fragments while dispensing sugar from a supplier for sauce formulation during processing. The resulting sauce is a component in the frozen entrée products,” according to the recall notice. Specific label information can be used to identify the recalled products:
- 22-ounce plastic bagged meal packages of “P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand Signature Spicy Chicken” with a “Use By” date of 6/08/17 and a case code of 5006616500; and
- 22-ounce plastic bagged meal packages of “P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Brand Mongolian Style Beef” with a “Use By” date of 6/17/17 and a case code of 5006617400.
The products subject to recall also bear establishment number “EST. 233” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The recalled products went to distributors and retail locations in Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin. ConAgra did not specify in the recall notice whether the distributors had sent the products to other states. As of this evening there hadn’t been any confirmed reports of adverse reactions or injuries related to consumption of the recalled products. The USDA urged consumers not to eat the products. Any consumers with the products in their homes should discard them or return them to the place of purchase, according to the recall notice. When available, the retail distribution information will be posted at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls. The Class I status of the recall indicates this is “a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
