WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2002—National Custom Packing, Inc., a Castroville,
Calif., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 85,000 pounds
of frozen chicken parmigiana for an undeclared allergen (shrimp), the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced
today.
Shrimp is a known allergen. Persons who have an
allergy or severe sensitivity to shrimp run the risk of a serious allergic
reaction if they consume this product.
The product being recalled is 24-ounce pouches of
"BERTOLLI CHICKEN PARMIGIANA & PENNE IN A TOMATO MOZZARELLA SAUCE" bearing a
code of "2H19NC2[A-F]," "2H20NC2[A-F]," "2H28NC2[B-D]" or "2X20NC2[B-C]."
Each package also bears the establishment code "P-21340" inside the USDA
seal of inspection.
The product was produced on Aug. 19-20, Aug. 28
and Sept. 20 and distributed to retail stores in Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
"We urge consumers who are allergic to shrimp to
check their refrigerators and freezers," said Dr. Garry McKee, FSIS
administrator. "If they find the product listed above then they should not
eat it, but return it to the point of purchase."
The problem was discovered after a consumer
inquiry to the company.
Consumers with questions about the recall may
contact Unilever Best Foods' 24-hour hotline at 1-800-457-7086. Media with
questions may contact Nancy Goldfarb, corporate affairs, Unilever Best
Foods, at 212-906-4690.
Consumers with other food safety questions can
phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The
hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 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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