6,000 Pounds Of Frozen Chicken Sold At Walmart Have Been Recalled

When companies issue recalls on food products, it can make consumers collectively hold their breath. You might wonder if the recall will affect you in some way. When it involves items like chicken, perhaps bacteria like Salmonella or listeria spring to mind. After all, just last year, listeria infections were linked to the recall of nearly 9 million pounds of frozen Tyson chicken (via Today). But that is not the problem here.

Due to mislabelling, Mountain View Packaging recalled the frozen product, InnovAsian Crispy Chicken with Almonds, last week, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. The major retailer Walmart sold the frozen dish in 28 states (via Fox Business). Given that this involves pulling more than 6,000 pounds of chicken off shelves, it may seem like a huge blow when considering the chicken shortages that Redditors noticed at Walmart earlier this year. But the issue involves a possible allergen and related health risks.

One might expect something called Crispy Chicken with Almonds to have chicken as its only animal-based protein or at least not to have seafood. But according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, a customer discovered the item contained shrimp, which had not been declared on the label as a potential allergen, and made a complaint. While shrimp might not pose a problem for some people, for those with a shellfish allergy, it can be a real concern. The Mayo Clinic reports that once someone with an allergy eats or even touches shellfish, it could take mere minutes or as long as an hour for symptoms to begin. Reactions may include but are not limited to hives, itchiness, breathing difficulties, and even anaphylaxis, which can be deadly.

As of December 14, the frozen chicken product hadn't been connected to a reported case of sickness, according to a statement by InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises, Inc. (via Business Wire). But consumers are being advised not to eat the product and instead return or discard it. The labeling issue only applies to packages with lot code 22321-1 and BBD (best before date) 05-24-23. Customers who want a refund or to have their product replaced can call InnovAsian at 1-800-324-5140.