WASHINGTON, March 6, 2003 – Intermex Products USA
Ltd., a Grand Prairie, Texas, establishment, is voluntarily recalling an
additional 104,000 pounds of canned Chili con Carne that contain undeclared
ingredients and an undeclared allergen (oats), the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. On Feb. 4
the company recalled approximately 1,060 pounds of canned Chili con Carne.
The products subject to the expanded recall are:
- 15-ounce cans of "el Rio, SOUTHWESTERN STYLE, ALL NATURAL, CHILI CON
CARNE, NO BEANS." The products were produced on various days between Dec.
7, 2000 and April 19, 2002.
- 15-ounce cans of "el Rio, SOUTHWESTERN STYLE, ALL NATURAL, CHILI CON
CARNE, WITH BEANS." The products were produced on various days between
Sept. 28, 2000 and Sept. 16, 2002.
Each product bears the establishment number "EST.
13172" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The products were distributed to retail stores in
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
"We urge consumers who are allergic to oats to
check their canned
goods for the recalled products," said Dr. Garry
L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "If they find any of the products listed
above, then they should not eat them but return it to the point of
purchase."
February 4 Recall
The products subject to the initial recall are:
- 15-ounce cans of "el Rio, SOUTHWESTERN STYLE, ALL NATURAL, CHILI CON
CARNE, NO BEANS." Each product bears the establishment number "EST. 13172"
inside the USDA seal of inspection. In addition, the following codes are
listed on each can: "30ENE05" and "13172E1."
The products from the Feb. 4 recall were produced
on Jan. 30, 2002, and distributed to retail stores in Florida, Illinois and
Ohio.
FSIS discovered the problem in response to a
consumer complaint of an allergic reaction. An FSIS investigation revealed
that the product contained ingredients that are not listed on the product
label. The ingredients not included on the label are oats, soybean, modified
food starch, corn meal, sugar and caramel color.
Anyone concerned about an illness or an allergic
reaction should contact a physician.
Media with questions about the recall may contact
David Hagli, company vice president, at (972) 660-2071. Consumers with
questions about the recall may contact Susan Hurt, company director of
technical services, at (972) 660-2071.
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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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov |
FOOD ALLERGIES
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-800-535-4555 or visit
www.fsis.usda.gov
Consumers who have a food allergy or severe
food sensitivity should always read ingredient
labels. In restaurants they should ask whether
an allergy-causing ingredient is in the food.
A food allergy occurs when the immune system
reacts to a certain food, usually within
minutes after the food has been consumed.
Symptoms may include throat swelling,
breathing trouble or a rash.
Strictly avoiding the allergy-causing food is
the only absolute way to avoid a reaction.
Several foods account for 90% of allergic
reactions. They include peanuts, tree nuts
(walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish,
eggs, milk, soy, and wheat.
Persons who have a severe, life-threatening
food allergy should always carry, and know how
to administer, prescription epinephrine. |