WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2003– Intermex Products USA
Ltd., a Grand Prairie, Texas, establishment, is voluntarily recalling
approximately 1,060 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.
The products subject to the 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 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, modified food
starch, corn meal, sugar and caramel color.
Anyone concerned about an illness or an allergic
reaction should contact a physician.
"We urge consumers who are allergic to oats to
check their canned goods for the recalled product," said Dr. Garry L. McKee,
FSIS administrator. "If they find any of the product listed above, then
consumers who are allergic should not eat this product but return it to the
point of purchase."
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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