The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public notification of a recall being conducted by the Chilean Ministry of Health for chicken products. After official notification from the government of Chile of the positive result for dioxin, FSIS instructed importers to hold product, which was presented for re-inspection. FSIS has determined that 188,522 lbs of chicken may be affected and 126,082 lbs is currently being held. The agency is investigating the distribution of the remaining 62,440, lbs. and verifying if additional shipments are involved. FSIS may expand the public notification and will take necessary and appropriate action after analyzing updated information received from the government of Chile.
The Chilean Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture oversees the recall activities and investigations in Chile. FSIS is performing effectiveness checks in the United States by verifying that those companies who have received implicated product from the Chile-initiated recall have been notified and that all adulterated product is held and destroyed.