by Austin, Minnesota — Hormel Foods has announced a nationwide recall of nearly 4.9 million pounds of its frozen boneless chicken products after reports of metal fragments were discovered in some items, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
Contamination Linked to Damaged Conveyor Belt
The recall, which affects several types of Hormel Fire Braised chicken products, was initiated after multiple customers reported finding metal pieces in both chicken breasts and thighs.
According to the FSIS, Hormel traced the source of the contamination to a damaged conveyor belt used during the production process.
While no injuries or illnesses have been reported so far, federal officials emphasized the seriousness of the potential hazard. The recall involves products that were distributed between February 10 and September 19 to restaurants, cafeterias, and other food service establishments across the U.S.
Affected Products and Identification Codes
The recalled items are not sold directly to consumers but were supplied through HRI Commercial Food Service, a nationwide restaurant supply company. Affected items include:
- 13.9-lb. cases of “Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN THIGH MEAT” – item code 65009
- 13.8-lb. cases of 3-oz. “Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST” – item code 77531
- 13.8-lb. cases of 4-oz. “Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST” – item code 46750
- 23.8-lb. cases of 5-oz. “Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST” – item code 86206
- 13.95-lb. cases of “BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT” – item code 134394
The full list of production codes and pack dates can be found on the USDA’s official recall page.
FSIS Urges Food Service Operators to Discard Recalled Items
FSIS has urged all restaurants, cafeterias, and food service providers to check their freezers and storage units immediately. Any recalled product should be disposed of or returned to the supplier.
“Metal fragments can pose a choking or injury hazard,” the agency said in its public advisory. “Operators should not serve these products under any circumstances.”
Hormel confirmed that it has contacted all affected distributors and clients to ensure the removal of the recalled chicken from circulation. The company stated that no other Hormel products are impacted and that it has implemented additional safety checks to prevent similar issues in the future.
Recent FDA Recall Raises Broader Food and Drug Safety Concerns
This recall comes shortly after a separate, unrelated product recall involving cholesterol medication distributed nationwide.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded a recall of more than 140,000 bottles of Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets — a generic form of Lipitor — due to “failed dissolution specifications.”
Manufactured by Ascend Laboratories, the affected batches were distributed in 90-count, 500-count, and 1,000-count bottles with expiration dates extending through February 2027. As of October 10, the FDA categorized the case as a Class II recall, meaning the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, but serious risks are unlikely.
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Safety and Quality Under Scrutiny
The pair of large-scale recalls highlights the importance of strict production oversight across both the food and pharmaceutical industries. While neither recall has resulted in reported injuries or health issues, both underscore how small manufacturing defects can pose significant safety risks if undetected.
Hormel stated it is working closely with the USDA and its suppliers to ensure corrective measures are in place. “No other Hormel products are affected, and no illnesses or injuries have been reported,” the company reiterated
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