Nestlé Prepared Foods is collecting about 762,615 pounds of selected batches of Hot Pockets, announced the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
This recall includes 54-ounce boxes of 12-count Pepperoni Premium made with pork, chicken and meat buttered garlic crust pizza. They have lot codes 0318544624, 0319544614, 0320544614 and 0321544614, and a “best before” expiration date of February 2022. The boxes also have the establishment number “EST. 7721A” within the USDA inspection mark.
Frozen and not-ready-to-eat products were shipped across the country in November 2020 and produced from November 13 to 16. The product is being collected due to the potential for contamination with “foreign materials, specifically pieces of glass and rigid plastic. “
Nestlé revealed that these products can “pose a choking or laceration risk and should not be consumed”.
The USDA classified this as a “Class I” recall, which is defined as “a health risk situation where there is a reasonable likelihood that using the product will cause serious and adverse health or death consequences”.
Nestlé became aware of the problem after receiving four customer complaints about “foreign material in the hot pepperoni pocket product”. They received a report of minor oral injury associated with consumption of the affected product. FSIS has not received any additional reports of injury or illness from that batch of products.
“The quality, safety and integrity of Nestlé USA and Hot Pockets products remain our number one priority,” said Nestlé in a press release. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this action poses to our consumers and retail customers.”
Last month, Nestlé recalled approximately 92,206 pounds of Lean Cuisine roast chicken starters due to possible contamination with “foreign materials, specifically pieces of rigid white plastic”. There were no reports of injuries or illness at the time, according to FSIS.
Any consumer who has purchased the affected batches of Hot Pockets must discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Customers who are concerned about possible injury or illness should contact their doctor.
A version of this story was first published on TODAY.com.