After consumers find plastic in nuggets, Tyson issues recall

When you buy packaged food at any grocery store in Mesquite, you expect it to be safe for consumption — especially when it is likely to be consumed by children. Food manufacturers are required to adhere to federal safety standards during the production of their products. Unfortunately, sometimes problems go unnoticed or unreported.

Recently, Tyson Foods Inc. announced the recall of more than 75,000 pounds of frozen chicken nuggets for foreign matter contamination. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, multiple consumers had reported finding bits of plastic in the chicken nuggets. Although no one was seriously injured because of the contamination, some consumers suffered minor injuries to their mouths.

The recall affects 5-pound bags of chicken nuggets sold at Sam’s Club stores nationwide, and 20-pound bags that were shipped to two states, but not Texas. Officials believe a product scraper that is part of a blending machine is to blame for the contamination.

Although it is fortunate that Tyson was made aware of this issue and warned consumers before any serious injuries occurred, this recall highlights the importance of well-maintained production facilities and equipment. Even a minor malfunction can create a threat to consumers.

Consumers who are injured by a defective product should know that they have rights. While no one suffered major injuries in this case, certain defective products have the potential to cause serious and even life-threatening harm to consumers. If that happens, a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer may be warranted. A company should not get away with selling a faulty product, and an injured customer should not be forced to pay expensive medical bills because of a company’s negligence.

Source: Food Safety News, “Tyson Foods Recalls Chicken Nuggets for ‘Foreign Matter Contamination’,” April 4, 2014