Massachusetts Firm Recalls Meatballs That May Contain Pieces Of Hard Plastic

WASHINGTON, April 9—Home Market Foods, Inc., a Boston, Mass., establishment is voluntarily recalling approximately 14,000 pounds of meatballs that may contain pieces of hard plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products being recalled are:

• Three lb. packages of "Shaw’s ITALIAN STYLE Meatballs, FLAME BROILED." The meatballs in the package are a half-ounce. Each package bears the UPC code "045674589253."
   
• Two lb. packages of "Home Market Foods, Cooked Perfect, Italian Style Meatballs, FLAME BROILED." The meatballs in the package are a half-ounce. Each package bears the UPC code "036669061854."

Each package has the "best if used by" date of "010805." The establishment code, "Est. 2727," also appears inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were produced on January 8, 2004 and were distributed to retail stores in Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Ohio.

The company initiated the recall after receiving three consumer complaints. FSIS has received no reports of injury.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Steve Smith, company vice president of operations, at (617) 269-2250, Ext. 317.

Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at l-888-674-6854. The hotline 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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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.