The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has expanded the amount of chicken products being recalled by the Chilean Ministry of Health over dioxin contamination concerns.
After receiving official notification from the government of Chile over the positive result for dioxin, FSIS issued a public notification and instructed importers to hold chicken products which were presented for re-inspection.
The agency has determined that 343,637 pounds of chicken may be affected and 155,595 pounds is currently being held. Through effectiveness checks, it found that 188,042 pounds of product was distributed to federal establishments for further processing in Florida, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.
FSIS noted that it will take appropriate action if prohibited activity is found.
All the products produced at San Vicente establishment, a Chilean establishment 0608, between 30 May 2013 to 12 June 2013 are believed to be adulterated and should be discarded, the agency said.
The Chilean Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture oversees the recall activities and investigations in Chile. FSIS verifies that all receivers of affected product from the Chilean-initiated recall have been notified and have discarded the product.
Dioxins are a group of compounds that occur naturally during forest fires, as well as from industrial emissions and burning trash. Very high doses of dioxin for a prolonged period could lead to adverse health effects.
