Tyson Foods Recalls 30,000 Pounds of Chicken Nuggets Due to Metal Contamination

Tyson Foods is initiating a recall of nearly 30,000 pounds of its dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets following reports from consumers who discovered small metal fragments in the product, according to federal authorities.

The recall, announced on Saturday, pertains to 29-ounce plastic bags of “Fully Cooked Fun Nuggets Breaded Shaped Chicken Patties,” as disclosed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service in an official statement.

This recall affects approximately 29,819 pounds of the dinosaur-shaped nuggets, which were manufactured by the Arkansas-based food processing company on September 5. The affected bags bear a “best if used by” date of September 4, 2024, along with lot codes 2483BRV0207, 2483BRV0208, 2483BRV0209, and 2483BRV0210, as indicated in the statement. The packaging depicts cartoon dinosaurs, one green and one red, observing a plate of the breaded nuggets.

Tyson, on its website, explained that it was voluntarily initiating the recall “out of an abundance of caution” and assured that no other products were impacted.

The products were distributed to various distributors in the states of Alabama, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin, according to the statement from the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Tyson stated that the issue came to light after they received complaints from customers who reported encountering small metal pieces within the product, as stated by the federal agency. There was one case of a “minor oral injury” linked to the consumption of the product, but there have been no further reports of injuries or illnesses, officials stated.

The federal statement recommended that individuals with concerns about injuries or illnesses should reach out to a healthcare provider. The Food Safety and Inspection Service advised consumers not to consume the nuggets and recommended discarding any remaining product in the freezer or returning it to the place of purchase.

This isn’t the first recall involving Tyson chicken products. In 2019, the company recalled 69,093 pounds of frozen chicken strips after two individuals reported discovering metal pieces in the product, as noted by the Department of Agriculture at that time.