The V.I. Department of Health (DOH) alerts all residents that Tyson Foods and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an expansion of the March recall of Tyson chicken strip packages that may contain pieces of metal.
The original recall on March 21 included 69,093 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strip products, the USDA reports. It now includes more than 11 million pounds of chicken.
According to information provided by the USDA, Health Commissioner Designee Justa Encarnacion said that the recalled frozen chicken was produced on various dates from Oct. 1, 2018 through March 8, 2019, and have “Use By Dates” of Oct. 1, 2019 through March 7, 2020.
The products subject to recall have “P-7221” on the back of the package and include varieties like Crispy Chicken Strips, Buffalo Style Chicken Strips, and Honey BBQ Flavored Chicken Strips. They were shipped to retail and Department of Defense locations nationwide, as well as to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This is a Class I recall, meaning it is “a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death;” therefore, Encarnacion strongly urges residents to throw it out or return it to the place of purchase if you do find a package with this number in your freezer. “Do not eat it!” said Encarnacion.
Wanson Harris, director of the V.I. Division of Environmental Health, echoed the sentiments of the commissioner designee and said, “We’re on top of the recall situation and have dispatched our team of inspectors to grocery stores and retail shops to advise their owners and operators about the urgency of the recall.”
Harris also wants residents with questions on the recall to contact the V.I. Department of Health’s Division of Environmental Health at 227-8510.
