Chicken imported form Chile is being recalled after testing positive for dioxin, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The agency has determined that 188,522 lbs of chicken may be affected and 126,082 lbs is currently being held. FSIS is tracking the distribution of the remaining 62,440, lbs. of chicken to make sure companies that received the tainted chicken were notified of the recall by the Chilean Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture which oversees food recalls in Chile. FSIS has issued a “public notification” but not a recall because the Chilean agency has already done so.
Dioxins are highly toxic environmental pollutants that can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems; damage the immune system and interfere with hormones, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). They form in the air during forest fires or trash incineration and are then incorporated into plants. If those plants are eaten by animals they become concentrated in animal fat. At very high doses over a prolonged period of time, dioxins can have adverse health effects. FSIS has determined that contamination in this product is low and does not pose a health threat.
Where was this chicken headed, what company was it sold under?
Unfortunately we don’t know. The USDA hasn’t released that information.