Costco Recalls 148,000 Pounds of Chicken Patties Over Plastic Fragment Fears

Costco Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Recalled Over Foreign Matter Contamination Concerns

In August 2022, Foster Farms issued a recall of close to 150,000 pounds of frozen chicken patties sold to Costco that may contain extraneous material. The patties were shipped to distribution centers in several western U.S. states for further sale via Costco stores. This led many consumers to question the safety and integrity of Costco's popular chicken products going forward.

The Initial Recall Applied to 80 Oz Bulk Packs of Chicken Patties

The recall involved 80 ounce bulk pack bags containing 20 pieces of breaded chicken breast patties with rib meat that had been precooked and frozen. They were produced by Foster Farms at one of their California facilities in May 2022.

The recall came after consumers reported finding hard plastic embedded in the product, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS).

Plastic Pieces Could Cause Injury and Reduce Confidence in Safety Standards

The FSIS determined there was enough evidence to be concerned about consumer safety, with the plastic pieces posing a clear physical hazard.

Ingesting the plastic could cause injury to teeth, mouth, throat, stomach linings. It could also erode trust in Foster Farms and Costco to uphold adequate safety protocols during production, processing and transport.

While no injuries had been officially linked to the contaminated patties as of the recall date, transparency over the risk was appropriate.

Distribution Limited to Costco Warehouses in 5 Western States

The Foster Farms chicken patties covered under the recall had been shipped to Costco distribution centers in these states for further allocation to Costco warehouses:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Utah
• Washington

So consumers who recently purchased the 80 oz packages of breaded chicken breast patties with rib meat at their local Costco should check if they had the affected batch codes.

Safety Precautions Advised Around Preparation and Consumption

For those who did purchase the recalled frozen chicken patties from Costco before they were removed from store shelves, the FSIS and Foster Farms advised adhering to certain safety guidelines.

Discard or Safely Return the Recalled Product

Firstly, consumers were instructed not to prepare or consume any chicken patties matching the recall details. This included not reheating patties that may have been previously cooked already.

Instead, the packets should be discarded carefully to prevent others from acquiring and eating them, or they can be double-bagged and refrigerated to return for a refund.

Sanitize Surfaces and Equipment Thoroughly

Any surfaces, utensils, appliances, dishes or storage containers that may have come into contact with the raw or cooked chicken patties should be washed and sanitized very carefully to eliminate contamination risk.

Monitor for Adverse Reactions and Seek Medical Care If Required

If by chance someone did eat the recalled chicken patties and swallowed any extraneous plastic or experiences concerning symptoms afterwards, they were advised to contact their healthcare provider.

Prompt medical intervention could help diagnose and treat any potential injury or illness resulting from ingesting the hazardous foreign matter.

Important Details to Identify the Affected Chicken Patties

Consumers needed to check certain details printed on the chicken patty packing labels to determine if they purchased one of the recalled 80 oz bulk packs.

Affected Batch Codes

Only certain production batch codes printed on the plastic lining inside the cardboard freezer cartons were impacted:

• P-53928
• P-53929
• P-53930
• P-53931
• P-53932
• P-53933
• P-53934

Check Use or Freeze By Dates

The recalled chicken patties would also have one of these use or freeze by dates stamped on the packaging:

• 06/26/23
• 07/03/23
• 07/10/23
• 07/17/23

So verifying both batch codes AND use by dates was necessary to determine if a purchased product was affected.

Consumers Advised to Report Issues and Ask Questions

Anyone with concerns about recalled Foster Farms chicken patties purchased at Costco or experiencing side effects from ingesting them were encouraged to take one or more of these recommended actions:

Contact Foster Farms Consumer Hotline

Call the toll-free USDA hotline set up by Foster Farms to assist with the recall at 1-877-227-8607 from 10am to 6pm Eastern Time, Monday thru Friday.

Report Problems to USDA

File complaints online via the USDA FSIS website about finding extraneous materials in the chicken patties, getting sick from eating them or related issues.

Ask Costco for Help

Reach out to local Costco store management for assistance with identifying recalled products, obtaining refunds or exchanging chicken patties purchased.

Costco corporate consumer services can also field inquiries about how they are handling the situation with Foster Farms to prevent similar incidents going forward.

Key Steps Costco Took After the Chicken Patty Recall

Soon after public alerts around the contaminated chicken patty recall were issued in August 2022, Costco deployed several strategies to protect consumers and address the problematic situation with supplier Foster Farms.

Removing Recalled Packages from Store Shelves

Firstly, departments at all Costco warehouse locations across the 5 affected states worked swiftly to identify, isolate and remove any 80 oz packages of frozen chicken patties matching product details and batch codes covered under the recall issued by Foster Farms.

Posting Consumer Safety Notices

Signage went up on freezer sections and announcement boards warning members not to purchase or consume the recalled 20 count chicken patties until further notice.

This helped prevent accidental sales of any leftover recalled packages missed during inventory sweeps.

Offering Impacted Customers Refunds or Exchanges

Members returning recalled 80 oz packages of frozen breaded chicken breast patties with rib meat to their local Costco warehouses were offered swift refunds or exchanges for other poultry products.

No proof of purchase with a receipt was necessary.

Renewing Commitments to Safety and Quality Standards

In statements about the recall event, Costco reinforced their stringent approaches to only work with suppliers that adhere to the highest safety requirements and production quality controls.

As next steps with Foster Farms, they promised to re-emphasize expectations and reassess processes to prevent this from occurring in the future.

The Bottom Line for Consumers Going Forward

While foreign matter contamination situations negatively impact consumer confidence levels in the short term, Costco has a long track record of acting swiftly when issues arise and working closely with manufacturing partners like Foster Farms to correct gaps.

Members can likely continue to trust in rigorous safety protocols around Costco Kirkland Signature house brands and national branded items sold in store and online.

But these situations also serve as teachable moments for consumers to remain vigilant themselves, adhering to safe storage, thawing, cooking, preparation and consumption habits to protect their health.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.