USDA issues public health warning for Perdue Chicken tenders contaminated with possible bits of plastic

U.S. food safety officials have issued a public health warning for frozen Perdue chicken tenders, saying they may be contaminated with foreign materials, “particularly small pieces of clear plastic and blue food coloring.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health warning on Tuesday about Perdue’s gluten-free chicken breast tenders.

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The contamination was first revealed when a customer noticed a small piece of clear plastic and blue food coloring in a tender chicken. Perdu then reported the possible contamination to the food safety and inspection service, officials said.

“We determined that the source of the material was blue ink and a small piece of plastic from an ink pen cartridge that was accidentally introduced into the raw material before the bids were breaded,” said Jeff Shaw, Senior Vice President of Food Safety and Quality for Perdue , said in a press release. “This has likely resulted in a few packages that may contain the substance, but out of an abundance of caution we have decided to voluntarily withdraw all tender packages produced on the day of the incident.”

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The warning applies to 42-ounce pouches of Perdue’s frozen, ready-to-use “gluten-free” chicken tenders produced on July 12, 2022. The products bear location number P-33944 and a “Best if Used By” date of July 12, 2023. items are shipped to BJ’s Wholesale Club locations in the United States.

The back of the packaging of the affected Purdue Gluten Free Chicken Breast tenders lists the “use by” and “plant code.” (U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service/Fox News)

To date, according to the press release, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or side effects from anyone ingesting the product.

According to officials, no recall has been requested because the product is no longer for sale. However, the USDA fears the product could be in consumers’ freezers and urged customers to throw away or return the bags of chicken.

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Customers with concerns or questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov.

Perdue Foods did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.