Simmons Prepared Foods recalls poultry over contamination fears

US-based Simmons Prepared Foods has recalled more than two million pounds of poultry products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials such as metal.

The issue was identified by the company during its standard food safety and quality checks and was reported to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

A Simmons spokesperson said: “Food safety is a very serious matter at Simmons. That is why Simmons has issued a precautionary and voluntary recall of approximately two million pounds of fresh and frozen chicken products due to the potential to contain extraneous material, specifically metal.

“We are working closely with regulatory authorities and affected customers to expedite this product recall.”

The poultry items that are subject to the recall bear an establishment number ‘P-1949’, ‘P- 486’ or ‘P-5837’ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Simmons noted that the products were produced between 21 October and 4 November and were shipped to institutions located at various locations across the US, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

So far, the company has not received any confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of the products. Concerned consumers have been asked to contact a healthcare provider.

The recall has been categorised as Class I, which indicates that consumption of the product could cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

Additionally, FSIS is concerned that some products may be in restaurant freezers and advised restaurants not to serve these products.

In another development, New Jersey-based Rastelli Foods Group has recalled nearly 130,464lb of raw ground beef products over fears of contamination with foreign matter.

Products subject to recall bear establishment number ‘EST. 7877-A’ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Rastelli Foods said that the ground beef products were shipped to distribution centres and further sent to retail locations in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland.