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The United States Food and Safety Inspection Service issued a news release on Saturday, requesting the recall of 26,136 pounds of Artisan Fresh brand chicken apple sausage. The recall followed an investigation triggered by a series of complaints from customers, who found debris that appeared to be plastic in their sausages.

The contaminated sausages, produced on February 9^th by the Yoakum, Texas-based Eddy Packing, Co, and distributed nationwide on February 14^th include:

• 1-lb vacuum-sealed “ARTISAN FRESH, ALL NATURAL chicken & apple sausage” that comes in packs of three, bearing the USDA mark of inspection, and featuring a sell-by date of June 23, 2012
• 36-lb cases of 12/3-lb packages of “ARTISAN FRESH, ALL NATURAL CHICKEN APPLE SAUSAGE,” featuring the number “P-4800” inside the USDA mark of inspection and bearing codes 42450 or P13203 on the label

As of Saturday, March 31, Eddy Packing Co. and the US Food and Safety Inspection Service had not received any reports of illnesses or injuries caused by the contaminated sausage.

The government agency urges anyone who is concerned about an illness or injury related to consumption of these foods to contact a health care professional for appropriate medical guidance. Consumers with questions about the contaminated products can call Lindsey Morkovsky, Vice President of Operations at Eddy Packing Co. at (361) 293-2361.

FDA’s List of 10 Most Common Foreign Particles Found in Foods

The Food and Drug Administration lists some of the foreign materials most frequently found in food products, the common sources of these materials, and the threat that they might pose to unsuspecting consumers:

• Pieces of glass sometimes end up in food after breaking off of bottles, jars or lights. They can easily cause cuts and bleeding, and may require surgery to remove.
• Pieces of wood can come from fields, pallets, boxes or buildings. Wood can cause cuts, infection or choking, and may also require surgery to remove.
• Stones or metal fragments can come from fields, buildings, machinery, wire or the employees at the production site themselves. They can cause choking, broken teeth, cuts and infection.
• Insulation from the factories sometimes contaminates food, as well. Insulation can pose as a choking-hazard, and—in the case of asbestos—can also cause long-term bodily damage or death.
• Bone usually originates in the fields, or from improper plant processing. It can pose a choking hazard and cause trauma to the esophagus.
• Plastic can break off of plant packaging materials or pallets, or come from employees. Foreign plastic particles can cause choking, cuts, or infection, and may require surgery to remove.
• Personal affects belonging to employees have been known to get mixed up into food production. These articles can cause choking, cuts or broken teeth.

Injured by Contaminated Food?

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or illness from a food contaminated with foreign particles or bacteria or any other food-borne pathogens, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering. Contact our experienced attorneys today for a free consultation to determine if legal action is the right for your unique case.