FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Frozen, Not-Ready-To-Eat Signature Select Breakfast Bowl Products Due to Possible Temperature Abuse at Distribution Center

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that not-ready-to-eat meat products were subject to temperature abuse during storage at a distribution center prior to delivery to retailers, which may have resulted in the growth of spoilage organisms or pathogens. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. 

The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]:

• 7-oz. cardboard box packages containing “Signature SELECT BREAKFAST BOWL SAUSAGE POTATOES, EGGS, SAUSAGE & CHEDDAR CHEESE” with a best if used by date of JAN 11 24, lot code S011322 and UPC 21130 18044.
• 7-oz. cardboard box packages containing “Signature SELECT BREAKFAST BOWL BACON POTATOES, EGGS, BACON & CHEDDAR CHEESE” with a best if used by date of JAN 16 24, lot code S016331 and UPC 21130 18043.
• 7-oz. cardboard box packages containing “Signature SELECT BREAKFAST BOWL MEAT LOVERS POTATOES, EGGS, CHEDDAR CHEESE, SAUSAGE & BACON” with a best if used by date of JAN 11 24, lot code S011322 and UPC 21130 18042.
• 7-oz. cardboard box packages containing “Signature SELECT BREAKFAST BOWL SAUSAGE & GRAVY POTATOES, COUNTRY STYLE GRAVY, EGGS, SAUSAGE & CHEDDAR CHEESE” with a best if used by date of JAN 11 24, lot code S011331 and UPC 21130 18045. 

The products bear establishment number “EST 45210” on the top panel of the cardboard box. These items were shipped to Albertsons Companies retail locations in Northern California and Northern Nevada. The Signature Select Breakfast Bowl products were available for purchase at the following Albertsons Companies banner stores: Andronico’s Community Markets, Pak ‘N Save, Safeway and Vons. The problem was discovered when the producing establishment notified FSIS that their customer reported storing the product in an unrefrigerated area. FSIS found that the product was held at an incorrect temperature and then shipped into commerce. All remaining inventory of the affected items have been removed from the stores and destroyed. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.  Consumers and members of the media with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Albertsons Companies Customer Service Center at 1-877-723-3929, which is available Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Time. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw, Ready-To-Cook Stuffed Chicken Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that the raw, ready-to-cook chicken entrée products may be missing labeling that includes the list of ingredients and cooking instructions. This product contains soy and milk, known allergens, which may not be declared on the finished product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with an allergy to soy and dairy are aware that these products should not be consumed and to ensure that consumers properly cook this product to an internal temperature of 165 degrees as measured by a food thermometer. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. 

The raw, ready-to-cook chicken entrée products were produced on February 3, 2023. The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]:

• 12-oz. plastic wrapped metal containers containing “aprons READY TO COOK MEAL FOR ONE SUN-DRIED TOMATO & CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN WITH LEMON-GARLIC POTATOES” with a use by date of 02/15/2023.

The products bear establishment number “P-48176” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to Publix distribution locations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that the product was inadvertently misbranded when a printer did not place the bottom label on the product packaging. As a result, the list of ingredients and the cooking instructions are missing.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume chicken that has been cooked to a temperature of 165 F. The only way to confirm that chicken is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.

Consumers and members of the media with questions regarding the public health alert can contact John Miller, Director of Operations, Tampa Bay Fisheries at 813-752-8883 ext. 202 or johnm@tbfish.com.

Whitson’s Food Service (Bronx) Corp. Recalls Frozen, Ready-To-Cook Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli and Penne Pasta Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2023 – Whitson’s Food Service (Bronx) Corp., an Islandia, N.Y., establishment, is recalling approximately 8,713 pounds of frozen, ready-to-cook chicken alfredo with broccoli and penne pasta meals due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains egg, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. 

The frozen, ready-to-cook chicken alfredo with broccoli and penne pasta meals were produced on January 25, 2023, and January 31, 2023. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:

• 13.7-lb. boxes containing 30 plastic trays of 7.3-oz. meals containing “Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli & Penne Pasta” with a best if used by date of 1/25/24, product code number 903419 and lot number W01252308897.
• 13.7-lb. boxes containing 30 plastic trays of 7.3-oz. meals containing “Chicken Strips over WW Penne Pasta with Alfredo Sauce & Broccoli” with a best if used by of date 1/31/24, product code number 403127 and lot number W01312307698.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-32073” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutional locations, including schools, in New York and Pennsylvania. While the product was distributed to schools, it was through a commercial sale and was not part of the food provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program.                                  

The problem was discovered when the producing establishment received a consumer complaint and notified FSIS. The establishment investigated and determined that they updated the product formulation with a sauce containing egg, but the information was not provided to the nutrition department that creates the product labels. As a result, the immediate product labels do not list egg as an allergen and the case labels do not list egg in the ingredient statement. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.  

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in institutional freezers. Institutions are urged not to serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.