Tyson Chicken Nuggets Recall Issued Over Plastic Contamination

Federal health officials have announced a recall impacting approximately 130,000 pounds of Tyson Chicken nugget products, after consumers reported finding large pieces of hard plastic inside some nuggets. 

The Tyson Chicken Nugget recall was announced by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) on September 27, since the products may pose a serious injury risk for consumers, many of which are typically young children.

While no injuries have been reported to date, many consumers reported finding chunks of plastic in the nuggets. Tyson Foods Inc., began investigating the source of the contamination and discovered the fragments were cracked pieces of plastic that entered the chicken nuggets through the manufacturing process. Tyson’s investigation further found the plastic fragments most likely entered the products from a round, hard plastic rod used to connect a plastic transfer belt.

The pieces of plastic that entered the chicken nugget products have been recorded large enough to cause a choking hazard for children. The hard plastic fragments could also be sharp and pose a mouth laceration or intestinal laceration if chewed and swallowed.

According to the FSIS recall, the pieces of plastic fragments were recorded to be anywhere between 6.5mm in diameter to 21mm in length. The nuggets were scanned through a metal detector before approval, however no safeguards are in place at the manufacturing plant to detect plastic fragments.

Included in the recall are 5 pound bags of Tyson Fully Cooked Panko Chicken Nuggets that were manufactured on July 18, 2016, and have a “Best If Used By Date” of July 18, 2017. These products are marked with case code numbers 2006SDL03 and 2006SDL33. Also included are the 20 pound bulk packages containing “Spare Time Fully Cooked, Panko Chicken Nuggets, Nugget Shaped Chicken Breast Pattie Fritters with Rib Meat” that were manufactured on July 18, 2016 and are marked with the establishment number “EST. 13556”.

The products were manufactured by Tyson Foods Inc., of Sedalia, Missouri and the 20-pound bulk packages were shipped for institutional use in Pennsylvania and the five-pound bags were shipped to retail stores across the nation.

Customers are being encouraged to stop consuming the products immediately as the FSIS has given this recall Class I status, indicating there is a  reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Customers are encouraged to discontinue consuming the products and either discard them or return them to their store of purchase. Those with further questions or concerns regarding the recall may contact Tyson Foods’ Consumer Relations at (866) 328-3156.