FSIS: Chicken Imported From Chile Recalled Over Dioxin

WASHINGTONUSDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued public notification of a recall being conducted by the Chilean Ministry of Health for chicken products that have tested positive result for dioxin. FSIS instructed importers to hold product, which was presented for re-inspection. FSIS has determined that 188,522 pounds  of chicken may be affected, and 126,082 pounds are currently being held.

FSIS is investigating the distribution of the remaining 62,440 pounds of chicken products and verifying if additional shipments are involved. The agency may expand the public notification and will take necessary and appropriate action after analyzing updated information received from the government of Chile.

FSIS has issued this public notification to make the public aware of the situation. FSIS is not announcing a recall at this time because the establishment most directly associated with producing the adulterated product has recalled product and USDA works with its counterparts to conduct effectiveness checks in United States. In this case, the Chilean Ministry of Health initiated a recall of this product.

FSIS is performing effectiveness checks in the United States by verifying that those companies who have received implicated product from the Chile-initiated recall have been notified and that all adulterated product is held and destroyed.

Based on information provided by the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture that recent shipments of poultry from Chile contain dioxin, and, because they have been recalled, FSIS has declared the food products are unfit for consumption. Therefore, all products produced at San Vicente establishment [Chilean establishment 0608] on the affected dates [May 29, 2013 to June 12, 2013] are considered adulterated and should be destroyed.