On January 31, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) made an announcement regarding a potential threat to the nation’s food security.
The statement reported the voluntary recall of almost 2,581,816 pounds of canned meat and poultry products by Conagra Brands Inc, which is a packaged goods holding company with their headquarters in Illinois, Chicago.
The list of recalled products includes 63 specific ones like different flavors and varieties of Vienna sausages and potted meat which are available in the market under brand names like Goya, Great Value, Hargis House, Valrico, Kroger, Prairie Belt, Hereford, Grace, and Armour Star.
The company has to release a three-page document regarding the situation and the document includes all the details of the recalled products which include their UPC, lot code, size, and a few more such details which can be used to identify the products.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is trying its best to identify the recalled products and to avoid the consumption of those products.
According to their report, the recalled food items have an establishment number on their packaging which reads ‘P4247.’ The problem with the products was only identified later and as a result, the products were shipped to different locations across the nation between December 12, 2022, to January 13, 2023.
According to the FSIS report, the company issued the report regarding recalling the product after they found a major defect in the packaging of some of their products.
Many of the finishes can be seen to be spoiled or reported to be leaking in one of their warehouses and the production dates of the sprouts were different too, which made them arrive at the conclusion that it was a defect in the packaging that caused the damage.
As the packaging was damaged, chances are high that the product inside would also be contaminated, which in turn is a very high health risk for the potential customers.
The company also made it clear that some of the recalled products may not appear damaged to customers but chances are high that the damage has allowed foodborne pathogens to enter the can and spoil what is inside, making it harmful for consumption.
The items which are mentioned in the list had been distributed almost weeks before throughout the country. Even though it’s been quite some days after the incident, the company says that there had been no reports of illness because of the recalled meat products.
While there had been no reports of any illness, what bothers the authorities is the fact the damaged goods may still be present on the shelves of customers’ homes or any retail outlets.
The FSIS has advised the customers to not use it if they have purchased any of these recalled items and has instructed them to throw them away or return them to the shop from which they purchased them.
They have also advised that if any of the customers who have consumed the damaged goods become ill, then they should immediately seek medical attention.
Customers who have any questions or other doubts about the situation can contact the company through their email address or contact number that is provided on the recall notice.
The case of recalling food products is not a new event. Even though there are many rules set by the authorities to ensure the quality of the product, sometimes the manufacturers come across small mistakes that can compromise the quality of the food.
There are many such examples from the past where companies have recalled their distributed products.
Recently, FSIS issued a report which announced that Mountain View Packing, which is an Idaho-based company, is recalling its crispy chicken with almonds entree product. The product was distributed in almost 1,300 Walmart stores spanning over 29 states.
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The product was recalled because the poultry dish was replaced by a shrimp one. The company only realized its mistake after the complaints of its customers. As the product was shellfish, which is an undeclared known allergen, the company had no other ways but to recall their product.
The Food & Drug Administration on January 25 announced the recall of several batches of mini rice cake bites and drizzled popcorn products by Snack Innovation Inc. They are the parent company of the popular snack brand Drizzilicious.
The product was recalled based on the reports of the presence of undeclared peanut residue in the product.
The company made it clear that there had been contamination during the production process of the company and as peanuts are something that can have allergic and sensitive reactions in customers, the company was forced to recall their product.
Sovos Brands Intermediate Inc also has a history of recalling one of its products owing to a potential health risk. The company voluntarily recalled Rao’s Made for Home Slow Simmered Soup, Chicken & Gnocchi.
The company recalled the products because of a packing error where their vegetable minestrone was labeled as Chicken Gnocchi.
The problem with this error was that the product contained egg and as it was an undeclared ingredient, chances were high that it might affect people who have an allergy to the ingredient.
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