Georgia Firm Recalls Chicken For Possible Contamination With Plastic

CLASS I RECALL
HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113; FAX: (202) 690-0460
Liz Lapping

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2002– ConAgra Foods Poultry Group, an Elberton, Ga., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 36,000 pounds of fully-cooked, frozen chicken products that may be contaminated with a foreign material, plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The product subject to recall is "Easy Entrée POPCORN STYLE CHICKEN, Fully Cooked, Breaded Chicken Breast With Rib Meat, MADE WITH WHITE MEAT, OVEN CRISP BREADING." The product was packaged in 2-pound bags and bears the code "2241 P184" on the bags.

The chicken was produced on Aug. 29 and distributed to retail stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

"Because of the potential for injury, we want consumers to be aware of the recall," said Dr. Garry L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "Consumers should check their freezers for the recalled product."

ConAgra Foods Poultry Group notified FSIS that it was recalling the products based on the results of an investigation conducted by the company.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Elaine Born of ConAgra Consumer Affairs at (800) 321-1470. Media with questions about the recall may contact Bob McKeon, Director of Communications, at (402) 595-4691.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov

USDA RECALL CLASSIFICATIONS

Class I 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.

Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.

Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

Recall Release FSIS-RC-112-2002

Georgia Firm Recalls Chicken For Possible Contamination With Plastic

Recall Release
FSIS-RC-112-2002