Chile recalls chicken products over dioxin contamination

The Chilean Ministry of Health has initiated a recall of chicken products over concerns that they may be adulterated with dioxin, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Following the official notification from the government of Chile about the positive result for dioxin, FSIS asked importers to hold product, which was presented for re-inspection.

FSIS noted that 188,522lbs of chicken may be affected and 126,082lbs is currently being held; the distribution of the remaining 62,440lbs is under investigation.

FSIS is currently verifying if additional shipments may be affected and is conducting effectiveness checks in the US by checking that those companies that have received the affected product from the Chile-initiated recall have been notified and that all adulterated product is destroyed.

Dioxins are a group of compounds that form naturally during forest fires, as well as from industrial emissions and burning trash.

While consumers are exposed to low levels of dioxins through their diet with lesser exposure from air and soil, high doses for a prolonged period could result in adverse health effects.

Based on the information provided by the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture, FSIS believes that the recent shipments of poultry from Chile contain dioxin and are not suitable for consumption and have been recalled.

Therefore, all products produced at San Vicente establishment (Chilean establishment 0608) between 29 May 2013 and 12 June 2013 are considered adulterated and should be destroyed, the agency said.

FSIS has issued a public notification to make the public aware of the situation; however, it is not announcing a recall as the establishment most directly associated with producing the adulterated product has recalled the product.

The agency conducted an analysis of the Chilean test results and determined that the risk of illness from consuming the implicated product is negligible.

The agency noted that it will continue to investigate distribution of the product and will take necessary and appropriate action after analysing updated information received from the government of Chile.

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Image: Following the official notification from the government of Chile about the positive result for dioxin, FSIS instructed importers to hold product. Photo courtesy of Holger Dieterich.