In March, the world’s second largest processor and marketer of chicken, pork and beef issued a major recall on approximately 69,093 pounds of chicken strips. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said they had received two consumer complaints about Tyson Food Inc.’s fully cooked buffalo-style chicken strips containing “extraneous material.” As it turns out, the chicken contained metal fragments.
After additional complaints, Tyson is expanding the recall. The company is recalling around 11.8 million pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strips, concerned they may be contaminated with metal. Out of six complaints today, three have alleged oral injury from metal fragments in the chicken.
If you have Tyson products in your freezer, you’ll want to double check them. The recalled products were produced between October 1, 2018, and March 8, 2019. The number “P-7221” is listed on the back of the product package and “use by” dates range from October 1, 2019, to March 7, 2020.
Tyson has also released an expanded list of its recalled products, including Ahold, Kirkwood, Best Choice, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, Great Value, Hannaford, Meijer, Publix and Sparetime. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service advised anyone concerned about an injury or illness to contact a health care provider.
Tyson is no stranger to recalls or to questionable processing and packaging practices. The company admitted to injecting its chickens with antibiotics before they hatch, then labeling the meat as “raised without antibiotics.” The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service also found that Tyson’s chicken contains “worrisome amounts” of bacteria like E. coli, enterococcus, campylobacter and salmonella.
If the fact that Tyson products have been found to contain pieces of metal and rubber doesn’t deter you from buying their products, the fact that they are also contaminated with drugs and bacteria thanks to concentrated animal feeding operations, should.
If you choose to eat chicken, finding a local grass fed farmer raising chickens on pasture is the safest and healthiest way to go. In contrast to CAFO chicken meat, organic pastured eggs are one of the best protein sources you can eat. Steer clear of the dangerous “convenience” of frozen chicken and opt for fresh, organic meat instead — it’s safer and healthier.