Subject to the recall is Murry’s 12-oz. boxes of “Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets” with a “Best By” date of March 25, 2016.
The product bears the establishment number P-516 inside the USDA mark of inspection. This product was shipped to an establishment for distribution nationwide.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture discovered the problem during routine testing conducted as part of the state’s retail surveillance and sampling program at a federally funded Emergency Response Network lab. After being notified of the positive results, the FSIS conducted their traceback protocols.
In a statement issued by Murry’s Inc on Wednesday afternoon, the company said they are “voluntarily recalling 20,232 pounds of USDA-inspected Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Nuggets produced under the Bell & Evans brand in response to tests by the State of Colorado that suggest that the products may be contaminated. No other products are affected.”
Murry’s Inc. is a Lebanon, Pennsylvania-based company, with headquarters in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The company offers products through restaurants, diners, and other food service businesses in the mid-Atlantic area. This is not the first time Murry’s has been plagued with a recall of its gluten-free chicken products.
On October 27, 2014, the company voluntarily recalled 31,000 pounds of their 12-ounce boxes of “Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets” and 10.5-ounce boxes of “Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast” because testing was positive for Staphylococcal enterotoxins. The “best by date” on these recalled products was August 9, 2015.
Staphylococcal enterotoxins and food-borne illness
Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness caused by consuming food contaminated by toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus. Even though S.aureus is found on the skin and in the noses of healthy individuals, it can produce seven different toxins that are sometimes responsible for food poisoning.
Staphylococcal enterotoxins are very fast-acting, and can make you sick in as little as 30 minutes.Food being thoroughly cooked does not make a difference, and symptoms can develop in anywhere from one to six hours. The illness is usually mild, and symptoms can include nausea, vomiting diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
The FSIS says no illnesses have been reported due to consumption of the products, but anyone concerned about a reaction should call their health care provider. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Murry’s Customer Service at (800) 638-0215.
