ag-formation

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                  Telephone (803) 734-2210
D. LESLIE TINDAL, COMMISSIONER                                        Becky Walton, Director of Public Information
P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211                                  bwalton@scda.state.sc.us
www.scda.state.sc.us


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2002

COLUMBIA---The following two recall notifications from USDA FSIS pertain to products distributed nationwide that could, in fact, have been distributed to South Carolina.

*RECALL NOTIFICATIONS #1* - USDA-FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

PRODUCTS RECALLED: Canned Poultry Soups

PRODUCTION DATES/IDENTIFYING CODES: Produced on May 14, 2001. The product being recalled is 15-ounce cans of "HEALTHY CHOICE OLD FASHIONED Chicken Noodle SOUP," which actually contain 15-ounces of turkey and rice soup. The top of each can is embossed with a package code beginning with "15EN" followed by another number (1-8) and the establishment number "P91."  Also the label bears the establishment number "P-91" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

PROBLEM/REASON FOR RECALL: The canned soups were incorrectly labeled (misbranded) and the incorrectly labeled product contained whey that was not declared on the label.  Whey, a dairy product, is a known allergen.

HOW/WHEN DISCOVERED: On January 31, 2002, the firm reported to Recall Management Division (RMD) that they received several consumer complaints that the product was not as labeled.  Subsequent investigation by the firm's quality assurance revealed that the above-mentioned product was incorrectly labeled and the incorrectly labeled product contained whey that was not declared on the label. The firm notified RMD and initiated the recall voluntarily.

FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT:
00091 P
ConAgra Grocery Products Co.
901 Stryker Street
Archbold, OH 43502

CONSUMER CONTACT: Robin Dragich, Consumer Communications, 800-233-7022

MEDIA CONTACT:  Kay Carpenter, Corporate Communications, 949-437-1144

QUANTITY RECALLED: Approximately 408,000 pounds

DISTRIBUTION: Nationwide and exported to Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Granada, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Malaysia, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Trinidad, and Venezuela.

RECALL CLASSIFICATION: Class II

RECALL NOTIFICATION LEVEL: Retail

DIRECT NOTIFICATION MEANS: The firm has notified its customers orally and will follow-up in writing.

DATE OF RECALL MEETING: February 07, 2002

RECALL CASE NUMBER: 011-2002

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*RECALL NOTIFICATION #2* - USDA-FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

PRODUCTS RECALLED: Chicken Products

PRODUCTION DATES/IDENTIFYING CODES: Produced on December 13, 2001. The products subject to recall are 10-pound boxes of "CHIK 'N' ZIPS, Grilled FULLY Cooked Skinless Boneless, Chicken Breast FILLET STRIPS."  Each box bears the case code "5211," and a nine-digit date code beginning with the numbers "3471," and the establishment number "P-161" in the USDA mark of inspection.

PROBLEM/REASON FOR RECALL: The product may be underprocessed.

HOW/WHEN DISCOVERED: The firm reported to FSIS that its quality assurance investigation of a customer complaint revealed possible underprocessing of the above-mentioned product.

FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT:
00161 P
Brakebush Bros., Inc.
N4993 6th Drive
Westfield, WI 53964

CONSUMER CONTACT: Carl Brakebush, Vice President, 608-296-2121

MEDIA CONTACT:  Carl Brakebush, Vice President, 608-296-2121

QUANTITY RECALLED: Approximately 6,000 pounds

DISTRIBUTION: Nationwide

RECALL CLASSIFICATION: Class I

RECALL NOTIFICATION LEVEL: Institutional

DIRECT NOTIFICATION MEANS: The firm has notified its customers orally and in writing.

DATE OF RECALL MEETING: February 07, 2002

RECALL CASE NUMBER: 012-2002

FSIS CONTACTS:
Compliance/Recall Coordinator: 202-418-8874
Recall Management: 202-690-6389
Media Inquiries: 202-720-9113
Congressional Inquiries: 202-720-3897
Consumer Inquiries: 1-800-535-4555
Web site

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