The Perdue Chicken Recall Gluten-Intolerant Consumers Need To Know
Celiac disease affects roughly two million people in the United States, and around 1% of all people worldwide (via the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). This disorder affects digestion in the small intestine, and accidentally ingesting gluten can be dangerous for people who are affected by it. Fortunately, there are now a variety of gluten-free options at most grocery stores for people with celiac or gluten sensitivities, including pasta, bread, and quick snacks.
Perdue chicken has been around since 1920, and their products can be found frozen in grocery stores across the country, according to their website. Their Simply Smart Organics line offers a variety of gluten-free options, like tenders, strips, nuggets, and cutlets. But, before you preheat the oven for that quick weeknight dinner, check your packaging — a public health alert has been issued for some of their gluten-free products due to a contamination during production.
The contamination could be dangerous
Small pieces of clear plastic and blue dye have been found in some of Perdue's frozen chicken, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The public health alert was issued after a customer reported to the FSIS that plastic was found inside their tender.
The affected products are 42-ounce bags of Perdue's gluten-free chicken breast tenders and were sold at BJ's Wholesale Club. The products have a best-by date of July 12, 2023, on their packaging, are from lot number 2193, and have an establishment number of P-33944. Since the products are not currently being sold in stores, the FSIS issued a public health alert, rather than a recall.
Customers are advised to check their freezers for the affected products, and return them to the point of sale or throw them out. Perdue's website notes that there have been no reported cases of illness or injury due to the affected products.