Hormel Foods has announced a recall of nearly 4.9 million pounds of frozen boneless chicken products following reports of metal fragments in the meat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) classified this as a Class I recall, meaning it poses a serious health risk. The recalled items reached restaurants, hotels, and cafeterias nationwide between February 10 and September 19.
Contamination Traced to Conveyor Belt
After multiple complaints, Hormel traced the metal fragments to a conveyor belt used during production. The company believes this defect introduced small pieces of metal into chicken breast and thigh products. Fortunately, so far no customers have reported illnesses or injuries linked to the recall.
Who Got the Recalled Products
Hormel distributed the affected chicken only to foodservice operators—not to grocery stores or direct consumers. The supply chain partner HRI Commercial Food Service handled the distribution. As a result, the contaminated items may still reside in freezers at institutions such as hotels, schools, or restaurants. Authorities are urging those outlets to inspect their freezers immediately.
What Authorities Are Saying
The FSIS has urged foodservice providers not to serve the affected chicken and to dispose of it safely. Hormel, for its part, has already reached out to all customers who received the impacted products. The agency is also coordinating with state health departments to track and contain any remaining stock.
What You Should Know
• If you manage a foodservice outlet, check ingredient receipts and freezers for Hormel Fire Braised boneless chicken products.
• Do not use any of the recalled items; instead discard them or return to the supplier.
• Contact Hormel Foods if you believe you received the recalled batch.
• Monitor any signs of injury if exposure occurred, though no illnesses have emerged so far.
Conclusion
This recall of nearly 4.9 million pounds of frozen boneless chicken strikes at the heart of food safety for large kitchens and catering services. Although no illnesses have been confirmed, the discovery of metal contamination in foodservice goods raises serious alarm. Hormel and the FSIS must ensure this issue never repeats, while affected institutions must act swiftly to remove the products and protect consumers.
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