Approximately 245,366 pounds of Banquet chicken strip entrees have been the subject of an urgent recall after it was determined they could possibly contain bits of plastic.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued an urgent recall notice after the manufacturer behind this popular frozen food, ConAgra Brands Inc., told the agency that it had received a consumer complaint.
The consumer’s mouth was apparently injured by bits of plastic concealed within the chicken strip they were eating.
No other reported injuries, illnesses, or discoveries of plastic have been reported in connection to the product — yet. As the notice stated, “FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers.”
Indeed, during the pandemic, the demand for frozen food products surged among American consumers. This demand has softened a bit in the subsequent years but still remains strong.
Generally speaking, frozen food is as nutritious as fresh food since the freezing process preserves nutrients. At times, it can even be richer in vitamins and minerals than fresh food.
For instance, fruit and vegetables are often frozen at their peak ripeness, whereas fresh produce can lose their nutritional value as they sit in the fridge.
However, when it comes to frozen meals like Banquet chicken strips, it is important to check the serving size since many packages of frozen food contain several servings and thus double or triple the calories and saturated fats. Regularly consuming ultra-fatty or processed foods can have a negative effect on health and contribute to obesity, as covered in The Dallas Express.
The exact frozen product flagged by Banquet for potential plastic contamination is the 8.9-oz. carton of chicken with the establishment code “EST. P-9” and lot numbers 5009317120, 5009319220, or 5009319820 on the side.
These frozen chicken strip meals were produced this year on June 20, July 11, and July 17 and have “best if used by” dates of December 11, 2024, January 1, 2025, or January 7, 2025.
FSIS urges consumers to refrain from eating these affected units and to either throw them away or return them to the store from which they were purchased.
