Summary:
Hormel Foods Corporation has recalled 4.9 million pounds of ready-to-eat frozen chicken products after discovering metal contamination from production equipment. The USDA Class I recall affects fire-braised chicken breast and thigh meats distributed exclusively to foodservice providers between February-September 2024. This marks Hormel’s second major recall in five months following a similar 2023 incident involving wood contamination in canned stew. The situation highlights critical food safety vulnerabilities in industrial processing systems that could impact commercial kitchens nationwide.
What This Means for Foodservice Operators:
- Immediately audit freezer inventories for affected lots (USDA Establishment #P19497)
- Implement HACCP verification protocols for all Hormel-supplied proteins until recall resolution
- Notify local health departments regarding disposal procedures for contaminated products
- Review supplier quality assurance documentation during future procurement evaluations
Food Safety Alert: National Chicken Recall
Nearly 5 million lbs. of ready-to-eat frozen chicken products have been recalled due to metal fragment contamination traced to conveyor belt failures in production facilities.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the Class I recall affecting Hormel’s fire-braised chicken products distributed to foodservice providers through HRI Commercial Food Service between February 10-September 19, 2024.
Key Recall Details
- Product codes: P-19497V within USDA inspection mark
- Batch date range: 02/10/2024 – 09/19/2024
- Distribution: Foodservice sector nationwide (hotels, restaurants, institutional kitchens)
Manufacturing root cause analysis revealed metal shards from degraded conveyor components contaminated production lines. While no injuries have been reported, the FSIS emphasizes immediate disposal of affected lots due to potential perforation and laceration hazards.
Supply Chain Implications
This recall compounds foodservice procurement challenges following Hormel’s May 2023 recall of Dinty Moore beef stew containing wood particulates. Both incidents originated at Hormel’s Fremont, Nebraska facility, raising concerns about recurring quality control failures in bulk protein processing.
Regulatory Resources
- USDA FSIS Technical Recall Report – Official containment protocol documentation
- Hormel Food Safety Disclosure – Corporate responsibility statement
Food Safety Professionals Also Ask
- How can foodservice operators identify recalled chicken lots? Check for establishment number “EST. P-19497” printed on packaging.
- What constitutes a USDA Class I recall? Defined as high-risk situations with reasonable probability of severe health consequences.
- Are contaminated products still in circulation? Potential inventory remains in commercial freezer storage nationwide.
- What legal recourse exists for affected businesses? FSIS advises documenting disposal costs for potential restitution claims.
Food Safety Expert Commentary
“This recall exposes critical vulnerabilities in industrial food processing equipment maintenance protocols. Foodservice operators must demand third-party HACCP validation from suppliers, not just compliance certificates. The recurring nature of these contamination events suggests systemic quality assurance failures in conveyor systems handling ready-to-eat proteins.”
– Dr. Elena Torres, Director of Industrial Food Safety Consortium
Key Terminology for Food Safety Professionals
- USDA Class I chicken recall procedures
- Foodservice supply chain contamination protocols
- Conveyor belt metal fragment detection
- HACCP verification for ready-to-eat proteins
- Commercial kitchen recall compliance standards
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