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Massachusetts Firm Recalls Soup Products That May Contain Foreign Materials
Recall Release CLASS II RECALL
FSIS-RC-056-2012 HEALTH RISK: LOW

Congressional and Public Affairs
Bill Bagley
(202) 720-9113

WASHINGTON, August 15, 2012 – Blount Fine Foods, a Fall River, Mass. establishment, is recalling approximately 4,100 pounds of meat and poultry soup products that may contain fragments of plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall: [View representative labels (PDF Only)]
  • 16 oz. cups of "Wegmans Food Markets Chicken and Dumpling Soup," with a "use by" date of August 24, 2012 and "Keep Refrigerated" on the label.
  • 16 oz. cups of "Wegmans Food Markets Italian Wedding Style Soup with Meatballs," with a "use by" date of September 3, 2012 and "Keep Refrigerated" on the label.

The cases can be identified by establishment number "EST. 19449A" or "P-19449A" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The soup products were packaged on June 5, 2012 and sent to distribution centers in Pennsylvania and New York. From there, the products were sent to retail establishments in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

In addition to the FSIS regulated products, the firm is also recalling the following products, packaged on June 4, 2012, which are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration:
  • 16 oz. cups of "Wegmans Food Markets Gazpacho Soup," with a "use by" date of September 2, 2012
  • 16 oz. cups of "Wegmans Food Markets Tomato Basil with Orzo Soup," with a "use by" date of September 3, 2012
  • 16 oz. cups of "Wegmans Food Markets Caribbean Black Bean Soup," with a "use by" date of September 3, 2012
  • 16 oz. cups of "Wegmans Food Markets Lobster Bisque," with a "use by" date of September 3, 2012

The problem was discovered after consumers complained to the firm about finding plastic fragments in various Wegmans brand soup products. The problem likely occurred during the production of the soup containers. FSIS and the company have not received reports of injury due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers and news reporters with questions about the recall should contact Timothy Burns, Director of Quality Assurance for Blount Fine Foods, at (800) 274-2526.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
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Last Modified: August 15, 2012
USDA Recall Classifications
Class I This 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.
Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

 

 

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