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Chicken Nuggets Recalled Over Fears Of Plastic Contamination

By Tara Dodrill
Published on: 03:28 PST, Mar 7, 2016

Chicken nuggets have been recalled over fears that plastic pieces may have contaminated the food product. The USDA has recalled about 4,530 pounds of Applegate Farms chicken nuggets. The brand is produced by Perdue Foods LLC.

The USDA chicken nuggets recall notice stated that the federal agency’s inspection service found that the food might be contaminated with “extraneous plastic materials,” according to an ABC News report. The Applegate Farms chicken nuggets subjected to the recall notice were made on September 28, 2015.

The Applegate Farms chicken nuggets recalled products were shipped in 8-ounce packages that contain about 18 pieces. The Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets featured a September 27, 2016, best-before date. The recalled food products also contain the establishment number P-2617 in the USDA inspection mark box. The packages were reportedly shipped to grocery stores and other locations which sell frozen food in Indiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas, and New York.

The USDA was notified about the possible plastic contamination problem with the chicken nuggets when Perdue Foods LLC received a customer complaint regarding “small, solid, clear plastic” being found inside the Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets packages. No health issues associated with the plastic found inside the packages have yet to be reported.

A released from Applegate Natural & Organic Meats states that no other food products made by the company are affected by the USDA chicken nuggets recall.

“At Applegate, we’re committed to your health and well being and making sure our products meet the highest standards – from the farm to your table. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” the company release states. “We’re committed to bringing your family the best products possible, and we appreciate your attention to this notice.”

The Applegate Farms mission statement reveals that the company founder wanted to “change the meat we eat” and make “good meat” that is raised free from hormones and antibiotics with the livestock being humanely treated. The company is also reportedly devoted to making their products as affordable as possible to it is accessible to as many people as possible.

“To achieve this evolution, we put our resources toward the people we think have the most potential to change our food system – eaters, farmers and innovators,” the company website states. “Our work involves educating people about the important issues that impact their food, addressing the challenges faced by new farmers, and supporting big ideas that can improve the way good meat is raised, produced and distributed.”

Applegate Farms also points out the dwindling number of farmers which remain in America. The statistics shared on its website state that in 1910, the Unites States was a “nation of farmers” with approximately six million farming tending the fields and growing the food we all consume.

Today, even though the population has tripled since just over 100 years ago, there are only roughly two million farmers still hopping on their tractors every day to care for the crops and livestock. The food producer’s website also revealed that the average age of the American farmer is about 60 years old. Due to advanced age, over 500,000 farmers are expected to retired over the course of the next two decades.

“The implication of this scenario is simple: No Farms. No Food,” according to Applegate Farms. “If we want to keep America farming, we need to address the barriers new farmers face when getting started.Three of the biggest challenges are access to land, credit and farming knowledge.”

What do you think about the chicken nuggets recall and the dwindling population of farmers in the United States?

[Image by Shutterstock]

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