Mislabeling Leads to Recall of Tyson Canned Chicken

Tyson chicken
(Image credit: Tyson)

Tony Downs Foods Company, a Madelia, Minn., establishment is recalling approximately 70,500 pounds of premium chunk chicken due to mislabeling and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. The products may actually contain ‘Beef with Gravy.’ The canned beef product contains wheat, an allergen not declared on the canned chicken label. The product subject to recall is:

  • 12.5-oz. cans of “Tyson Premium Chunk Chicken.”  

The incorrectly labeled products subject to recall bear the code date of “8965 248A 12139” and “Best by May 18, 2015” ink-jetted on the bottom of each can. Each label bears the number P-65 inside the USDA mark of inspection. Correctly labeled cans are inkjetted with the code “1392TDM4600” and “P65” beneath a “Use By May 18 2015” date and are not subject to recall.

These products were produced on May 18, 2012, and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

Tyson Foods shipped the affected cans to the following food retailers and distribution centers in the following states:   

  • Affiliated Foods (NE)
  • Amazon.com (PA, NV, TN)
  • Associated Wholesale Grocers-DFW (TX)
  • Central Grocers Ellis (IL)
  • Certco, Inc. (WI)
  • Coastal Pacific Canned (CA)
  • Defense Commissary Agency (VA, OK)
  • Fareway Stores (IA)
  • Giant Eagle/American Seaway (OH)
  • Giant Eagle/OK Grocery (PA)
  • Grocery Supply (TX, GA)
  • H.E. Butt Grocery (TX)
  • Hy-Vee Food Stores, Inc. (IA)
  • Ingles Markets, Inc. (NC)
  • King Soopers Distribution Center (CO)
  • Meijer Wholesale (MI)
  • Nash Finch – Bellefontaine (OH)
  • Peyton (Kroger) (TN, IN)
  • Publix Super Market (FL, GA)
  • Sherm’s Thunderbird Market (OR)
  • Supervalu (WA, IL)
  • Tony Downs (MN)
  • Wal-Mart (WI, VA, NH, IA, NC, UT, LA, DE, IL, CO, PA, KS, TX, TN, AZ, AR, AL, CA, OH, KY, MS, OR, NY, IN, GA, MI, FL, IL, MO)

The problem was discovered after the firm received customer complaints that the product was incorrectly labeled. FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and to ensure that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company’s Tyson Consumer Hotline at 866-328-3156. Media with questions about the recall should contact. Tyson Public Relations Manager, Worth Sparkman, at 479-290-6358

Live Science Staff
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