RECALL: Simmons Prepared Foods recently recalled over 2,000,000 pounds of chicken products.
By Ester Wang, Staff Writer
Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. recalled a range of their poultry products over fears of contamination from metal. The company issued the recall in eight states, including California, Alabama, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Minnesota, Arkansas and Arizona. Those who are in possession of those products are encouraged to either “throw them away or return them to the store,” CNN writer Faith Karimi said.
If customers don’t heed the food company’s warning, they put their health at risk. If there are only miniscule pieces of metal in the product, the consumer should not be affected by it. As Dr. Baruch Fertel, a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, stated, “people ingest things like pennies and coins and it just comes out” (USA Today). However, even if they may be small-sized metal pieces, if they’re sharp enough, they can harm the consumer’s body. There is a chance the sharp metal could pierce a key organ, such as the esophagus or intestines. Also, if the metal piece is large enough, swallowing it could occlude the intestines, an essential organ that plays a vital role in our digestive system. The blockage could result in symptoms such as “worsening abdominal pain, inability to defecate and… vomiting” (USA Today).
Food poisoning is a common cause for chicken recalls. According to MedlinePlus, one way food can be contaminated is when “meat or poultry… come into contact with bacteria from the intestines of an animal that is being processed.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of food poisoning include an upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. One should visit the doctor if they are suffering from extreme symptoms of food poisoning: bloody stools, high fever, frequent vomiting, dehydration, or diarrhea (CDC).
For everyone’s health and safety, it is encouraged to keep a lookout for any product recalls and ensure that there are no risks of suffering from food poisoning or worse symptoms.