Health alert issued over Perdue chicken tenders after plastic and blue dye from PEN found in one

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Public health alert issued over Perdue frozen chicken tenders after customer finds plastic and blue dye from PEN inside single tender

  • Food Safety and Inspection Service told Americans to check their freezers for the chicken tenders
  • Perdue said the pieces were from a pen that was ‘inadvertently’ introduced to the production line 
  • No reports have been received of anyone consuming the plastics to date
  • Product is no longer on sale, but may be lurking in freezers across the country 

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Americans are being told to check their freezers for Perdue chicken tenders over fears they may contain plastic and bits of blue dye from a pen.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert Tuesday after a customer reported finding these items inside a chicken tender.

Perdue says they came from at least one pen that was ‘inadvertently’ added to the production line. They warn other packages could be contaminated.

There have been no reports of anyone accidentally consuming the plastic or dye and suffering an adverse reaction to date.

Although the products — which are ‘gluten free’ and sold in 42oz bags — are no longer on sale, the FSIS said it was concerned that they may still be lurking in people’s freezers. ‘Gluten free’ Perdue chicken tenders are still sold in 22oz bags.

Pictured above is the product that the FSIS is urging Americans to check their freezers for, after reports it has been contaminated with bits of a pen

Pictured above is the product that the FSIS is urging Americans to check their freezers for, after reports it has been contaminated with bits of a pen

The FSIS said anyone who had the products in their freezers should immediately throw them away or return them to place of purchase.

It said affected products would have a lot number of 2193, and had a best before date of July 12 next year.

Perdue foods said online it was ‘voluntarily’ withdrawing the ‘gluten free’ chicken tenders.

It has now investigated the report from the customer, and likely received the plastic and ink for investigation.

Its senior vice president Jeff Shaw said: ‘We determined the source of the material to be blue ink and a small piece of plastic from an ink pen cartridge that was inadvertently introduced into the raw material before the tenders were breaded.

‘This likely resulted in a few packages that potentially contain the substance.

‘However, out of an abundance of caution we decided to voluntarily withdraw all packages of tenders produced on the day of the incident.’ 

Purdue has faced concerns over its products at least twice in the last three years — including with another ‘gluten free’ chicken tender over fears it contained wood. 

Pictured is the back of the packages. They should have a best before date of 7 July 2023

Pictured is the back of the packages. They should have a best before date of 7 July 2023

Pictured is the back of the packages. They should have a best before date of 7 July 2023

In 2019, Purdue had to recall 31,000lbs of chicken over fears it was contaminated with bone material.

The FSIS issued the alert, saying the problem was discovered after it had received multiple customer complaints.

Responding then, the company said it was ‘committed’ to the ‘highest quality products’.

In January that same year it was also required to recall 68,000lbs of gluten-free chicken nuggets over fears they were contaminated with wood,