Company Expands Recall Of Poultry Products Over Contamination Concerns

WACO, Texas (CBSLA.com) — A Texas-based company is recalling more than 4.5 million pounds of fully cooked chicken products over concerns they may be contaminated with extraneous matter.

The recall of fully cooked chicken products by Pilgrim's Pride Corp. was initially announced early in April and had impacted approximately 40,780 pounds of chicken products at the time.

As of Tuesday, the recall was expanded to incorporate an estimated 4.5 million pounds of chicken products.

Authorities say the affected products were produced on various dates between Aug. 21, 2014 to March 1, 2016 and bear the establishment number "EST. 20728" inside a USDA mark of inspection.

The problem, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, was first discovered after several consumer complaints were received regarding plastic contamination of chicken nuggets.

The nuggets, strips, and patties were sold to schools and other institutions under several different brand names and were shipped for institutional use nationwide, authorities said.

Those who purchased the products were urged to discard or return them to the place of purchase.

So far, there have been no reports of anyone who has gotten sick or sustained an adverse reaction.

For more information on the recalled products, click here. To view the labels of the recalled products, click here.