US-based Nestle Prepared Foods Company has decided to recall nearly 92,206lb of Lean Cuisine Baked Chicken meal products as they may have been contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of white hard plastic.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the baked chicken meal products were produced and packaged on 02 September 2020.

Products that are subject to recall include 8 5/8oz. (244g) carton trays of ‘Lean Cuisine Baked Chicken, white meat chicken with stuffing, red skin mashed potatoes and gravy’ and bear establishment number ‘EST. P-9018’ on the side of the case near the lot number.

The products that are being recalled were shipped to retailers and distributors across the US.

The issue was identified on 18 December 2020, after Nestle Prepared Foods received five consumer complaints involving hard white plastic found in the product.

Nestle Prepared Foods said that the pieces of plastic found in the mashed potatoes used in the production of the baked chicken meals products could be of a plastic conveyor belt, which broke during production.

So far, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions as a result of the consumption of these products.

FSIS in its communication said that anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers have been urged not to eat the products and either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. The FSIS is also concerned that some products may be in restaurant freezers and has advised them not to serve these items.

The recall has been categorised as Class I, which indicates that consumption of the product could cause serious and adverse health consequences or death.

In May this year, Nestle Prepared Foods recalled approximately 29,002lb of chicken products labelled as Lean Cuisine Fettuccini Alfredo due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.