Perdue Gluten-Free Chicken Nugget Recall Issued Over Wood Fragments

Nearly 70,000 pounds of ready-to-eat, gluten-free chicken nuggets have been recalled by Perdue, due to a risk that they may contain wood chips, which pose a laceration and choking risk for consumers. 

The Perdue chicken nugget recall was announced by the U.S. Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) on January 17, after receiving at least three consumer reports indicating pieces of wood were found in the gluten-free chicken pieces.

According to the FSIS recall notice, the ready-to-eat gluten free chicken nuggets have the potential to contain extraneous material, specifically wood chips. To date, FSIS officials and the manufacturer are not aware of how the wood chips entered the products, and indicate that no injuries or adverse health consequences have been reported.

Extraneous material within food can cause a variety of adverse health consequences including lacerations to the mouth, choking, bowel perforations and even emergency removal surgery depending on what is in the food.

The recall includes approximately 68,244 pounds of Perdue SimplySmart Organics Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets Gluten Free. The recalled chicken nuggets were packaged in 22-ounce plastic bags and are marked with a “Best By” date of October 25, 2019, and bear the establishment number P-33944.

The products were manufactured by Perdue Foods, LLC of Perry, Georgia. They were marked with UPC barcode 72745-80656 and distributed to retail locations nationwide.

The recall has been categorized as a Class I recall, indicating the use or consumption of the product will cause serious adverse health consequences and even death.

Perdue Foods is the largest producer of organic chicken in the United States and distributes its products nationwide to thousands of retailers. Customers are being asked to check their freezers to ensure no remaining recalled products is eaten.

Customers with remaining recalled gluten-free chicken nuggets should either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For additional questions or concerns regarding the recall, please contact Perdue Customer Care at 877-727-3447.