Millions of pounds of canned meat may be contaminated - Check your cabinets

Canned goods have a much longer shelf life than fresh meat and produce. But if something goes wrong with packaging, it could put your health at risk. That’s precisely what happened recently with over 2.5 million cans of meat and poultry products. A packaging defect could lead to contaminated contents.

Read on for a list of canned goods to avoid and what to do if you have some in your pantry.

Should you toss out your Vienna sausages?

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says several canned meat and poultry products are being recalled due to packaging defects. The defect may cause the products to become contaminated without showing outward signs of contamination.

The recalled meat and poultry products were produced between Dec. 12, 2022, and Jan. 13, 2023. The issue was discovered when Conagra Brands notified FSIS after observing spoiled and/or leaking cans from multiple production dates at its warehouse.

The cans in question are labeled with the establishment number P4247. If you’re a fan of Vienna sausages, you should check your pantry to see if you’ve bought any defective products.

It’s not just Armour products being taken off the shelves, either. This link will show you the relevant UPCs, lot codes and best-by dates.

The cans in question are as follows:

  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (chicken, 4.6 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (chicken, 27.6 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (original, 4.6 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (original, 27.6 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (original, 55.2 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (barbecue, 4.6 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (barbecue, 27.6 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (bourbon barbecue, 4.6 oz).
  • Armour Star Vienna sausages (jalapeño, 4.6 oz).
  • Armour Star potted meat (3 oz).
  • Kroger Vienna sausages (4.6 oz).
  • Goya Vienna sausage (4.6 oz).
  • Prairie Belt Vienna sausage (4.6 oz).
  • Hargis House Vienna sausage (4.6 oz).
  • Hargis House potted meat (3 oz).
  • Grace Vienna sausage (chicken, 4.6 oz).
  • Great Value Vienna sausage (4.6 oz).

It’s recommended that you dispose of all potentially tainted cans. The damage may not be apparent from the outside, and the can’s contents might already be contaminated.

If you have food safety questions, call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. 

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