To:               Health Commissioners, Environmental Health Directors, Nursing Directors, ODA Food Safety Specialist, and Other Interested Parties

Subject:        Recall Announcement  (ODA/ODH) 2001-06

Date:             February 15, 2001         

South Carolina Firm Recalls Chicken Products for Possible Pesticide Contamination

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14,2000--Gold Kist Inc., a Sumter, S.C., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 421,000 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with the pesticide Aldicarb, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

Gold Kist Inc. notified FSIS of the possible contamination. The products subject to recall were sent to distributors and retail establishments nationwide. Products were produced on January 29 and are marked with the establishment number "P-17980" inside the USDA seal of inspection.

Products subject to recall are:

• Gold Kist Farms premium fresh "SPICY HOT FRYING CHICKEN WING PORTIONS," with package code "406000."

• Gold Kist Farms "YOUNG CHICKEN FRONT HALF SHELLS WITH ATTACHED SKIN AND NECK," with package code "170048."

• Gold Kist Farms "FRYING CHICKEN PARTS JUMBO WHOLE LEGS with skin and fat attached," with package code "70008."

• 10 lb. bags of Gold Kist Farms "BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST MEAT WITH RIB MEAT," with package code "230050."

• Gold Kist Farms "FRYING CHICKEN TENDERLOINS Big Bird," with package code "460010."

• Gold Kist Farms "FRYING CHICKEN PARTS BONELESS, SKINLESS WHOLE LEG MEAT," with package code "450000."

• Gold Kist Farms "BIG BIRD FRYING CHICKEN PARTS WHOLE WINGS," with package code "350021."

• 2.5 lb. bags of Gold Kist Farms "BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS," with package code "8420."

• 4 lb. bags of Gold Kist Farms "SEPARATED CHICKEN WINGS," with package code "8464."  

• Gold Kist Farms "GRANDY’S MARINATED CHICKEN BREAST FILLETS WITH RIB MEAT," with package code "7108."

• Gold Kist Farms "SOUTHERN STYLE CHICKEN TENDER FRITTERS," with package code "8272," "7272," or "7072."

• Gold Kist Farms "BREADED CHICKEN GIZZARDS," with package code "7501."

• Gold Kist Farms "DICED WHITE YOUNG CHICKEN MEAT," with package code "279."

• Gold Kist Farms "BLAZING WINGS CHICKEN WING SECTIONS," with package code "8086."

• Gold Kist Farms "CHICKEN WING SECTIONS," with package code "8076."

• WAL-MART SUPERCENTER, "HOT’ N SPICY BREAST STRIPS- Chicken Breast Strip Fritters," with package code "40021" and item number "8009908."

• WAL-MART SUPERCENTER "ORIGINAL BREAST STRIPS- Chicken Breast Strip Fritters," with package code "40020" and item number "8009943."

• "CN- ROASTED CHICKEN PATTIES," with package code "6620." 

"We urge consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers," said Margaret O’K. Glavin, acting FSIS administrator. "If they find any of the products listed above, consumers should not eat them, but return them to the point of purchase."

At high concentrations, Aldicarb can cause weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Paul Brower, vice president of corporate relations, Gold Kist Inc., at (770) 393-5312.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday, and recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.