Iowa Firm Recalls Chili With Beans Product Due To Mislabeling And An Undeclared Allergen

WASHINGTON, October 28, 2009 - Pinnacle Foods Group LLC, a Fort Madison, Iowa, establishment, is recalling approximately 91,125 pounds of a canned chili with beans product because it was inadvertently packaged with an incorrect flag on the plastic over-wrap and may contain an undeclared allergen, wheat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. Wheat is a known potential allergen and the plastic over-wrap incorrectly bears the statement "Gluten Free," since the product actually contains wheat.

The following product is subject to recall: [View Label]

• Cases containing six (6) 15-ounce cans of "ARMOUR Chili with Beans, Original." The plastic over-wrap incorrectly bears the statement "Gluten Free," while the product actually contains wheat, as well as the establishment number "EST. 2AD" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The chili products were produced on various dates ranging from August 26, 2009 to October 28, 2009, and were distributed to retail stores in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The problem was discovered after the company received a consumer inquiry. FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an allergic reaction should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumer and media questions regarding the recall should be directed to the company's hotline at 1-800-253-5882.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.