Suzanna's Kitchen in Duluth, GA, has issued a recall for about 35,800 pounds of breaded chicken products it processed because they may contain pieces of plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Thursday, Dec. 6.
The products subject to recall include:
- "Cases containing twelve (12), 12-oz cartons of "FREEBIRD FULLY COOKED CHICKEN NUGGETS," with an identifying case code of "6220" and use-by date of March 15, 2014, ink-jetted on each case and carton. These cases have a Julian code of "2075."
- "Cases containing twelve (12), 12-oz cartons of "FREEBIRD FULLY COOKED GLUTEN FREE/SOY FREE CHICKEN PATTIES," with an identifying case code of "6244" and use-by date of Sept. 6, 2013, ink-jetted on each case and carton. These cases have a Julian code of "1249."
- “10-lb bulk cases of "FULLY COOKED CHICKEN NUGGETS," with an identifying case code of "6221" and use-by date of March 15, 2014 ink-jetted on the case. These cases have a Julian code of "2075," and were shipped to a foodservice distributor in California for further distribution.
The nuggets and patties marked USDA-inspected were produced on March 15, 2012, and Sept. 6, 2011, for a separate federally inspected establishment and distributed to retail stores nationwide. FreeBird chicken products are organic and antibiotic-free.
The problem was discovered as a result of consumer complaints about finding pieces of plastic in the products, according to FSIS. The plastic pieces may have originated from the plastic bags containing the products prior to production.
"We've never had a recall," said Barbara Howard, the company's owner. Suzanna's Kitchen's headquarters are located in Duluth, but it was the business' next door plant, which is located within the city limits of Peachtree Corners that processed the nuggets and patties involved in the food recall.
Howard said the product had come from a California company.
FSIS and the company have received no reports of injury or illness at this time. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness from consumption of these products is being advised to contact a healthcare provider.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the Freebird Consumer Hotline at (800) 724-0206.
Food safety questions can also be answered by accessing "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative, 24 hours a day at www.AskKaren.gov or calling the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
