An important recall has been issued by Nestle Prepared Foods Company after it was discovered that an estimated “26,400 pounds of pork and beef products” were misbranded and contained undeclared allergens. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the recalled products contain “eggs, milk, soy, and wheat,” which are all known allergens, but “not declared on the product label.”

Recalled Hot Pocket Bites; Image Courtesy of Food Safety News, http://www.foodsafetynews.com

How can consumers tell if they have one of these recalled products, though? For starters, the products are “frozen not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pork and beef hot pocket items” that were produced on “September 21, 2016, January 10, 2017, and January 13, 2017,” according to the recall notice. The specific products include the following:

• 2,400-lb. bulk packages of “Nestle Hot Pockets BBQ Burger Bites.”

• 16,800-lb. bulk packages of “Nestle Hot Pockets 3 Cheese Bacon Bites.”

• 7,200-lb. bulk packages of “Nestle Hot Pockets Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Snack Bites.”

It's also important to note that the products weren't packaged with the “USDA mark of inspection,” and were “donated to a charitable organization,” and later “distributed to a food bank in Missouri.” Additionally, there are concerns that the products might have been “repackaged and further distributed and sold to additional food banks” throughout Missouri.So when was the issue discovered? Well, back on October 26, 2017, an officer from the Office of Investigations, Enforcement and Audit Compliance was conducting “routine in-commerce surveillance activities” and discovered the problem. Fortunately, no one has been injured or experienced any adverse reactions from consuming the products. Consumers concerned about the recall can contact their healthcare provider or contact Nestle Consumer Engagement Services at (800) 681-1676 or at nestleproductinquiry@casupport.com.

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Nestle Prepared Foods Company Recalls Pork and Beef Products Due To Misbranding and Undeclared AllergensNestle recalling 13 tons of Hot Pockets sent to food banks