Hungry-Man dinners being recalled for salmonella concerns

On July 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for products containing an FDA-regulated whey powder that has been recalled by the manufacturer due to concerns about salmonella contamination. The whey powder is being voluntarily recalled by its producer, Associated Milk Producers, Inc.

One product being recalled in connection with the possible contamination is the Hungry-Man 15.25-ounce Chipotle BBQ Sauced Boneless Chicken Wyngz microwave dinner. The affected products have a “best buy” date of Sept. 6, 2019. The products have the establishment number “EST. P138” or “P-138” on the side of the package, according to the USDA. The dinners were shipped to stores in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Pinnacle Foods, Inc., the company that produces Hungry-Man dinners, voluntarily recalled it after a notice from its supplier on July 17 that the recalled whey powder was used in the ranch dressing seasoning that is used in the mashed potatoes that come with the frozen meal.

The Food Safety Inspection Service advises customers who purchased the affected product to throw it away or return it to where it was purchased. So far, there have been no reported instances of reactions from eating the product, but if you ate some and are experiencing symptoms, you should seek medical care.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths in the United States annually. Consuming food contaminated with salmonella is the cause of about 1 million such illnesses. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, which usually begin about 12 to 72 hours after infection and typically last about 4 to 7 days. While most people recover without treatment, in some instances, illness can be severe and require hospitalization.

Consumers can direct questions or concerns about the Hungry-Man dinners to Pinnacle Foods’ consumer care department at 1-888-257-1057.

Other products from major brands that have recently been linked to salmonella include Ritz cracker products, Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers and Honey Smacks cereal. Other implicated foods include raw turkey, pasta salad from the Hy-Vee grocery store chain, cut melon, McDonald’s salads, Swiss rolls, vegetable trays and imported crab meat.