The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for frozen beef and chicken taquitos and chimichangas containing diced green chilies due to concern over hard plastic contamination. The extraneous materials may pose a choking hazard or cause damage to teeth or gums.
The nine stock keeping units subject to recall were packed at Ajinomoto Foods North America plants in Lampasas, Texas, and San Diego, California, and shipped to retail locations nationwide. Product descriptions are as follow:
- 19.2-oz. cartons containing 16 pieces labeled as “Great Value Flour Chicken Taquitos Tortillas Stuffed with All White Chicken Meat & Monterey Jack Cheese” bearing a best if used by date of “11 JUL 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
- 20-oz cartons containing 20 pieces labeled as “Casa Mamita Beef Taquitos Rolled in Corn Tortillas” with a best by date of “26 JUN 2021” and “EST 5590” printed on the side panel.
- 22.5-oz cartons containing 15 pieces labeled as “Casa Mamita Chicken and Cheese Taquitos Rolled in Flour Tortillas” with a best by date of “26 JUN 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
- 15-oz. cartons containing 15 taquitos labeled as “José Olé Taquitos Chicken and Cheese Pollo Y Queso in Flour Tortillas” with a best by date of “08 JUL 2021” or “18 JUL 2021,” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
- 20-oz. cartons containing 20 taquitos labeled as “José Olé Taquitos Beef Carne de res in Corn Tortillas” with a best by date of “08 JUL 2021” and “EST 5590” printed on the side panel.
- 22.5-oz cartons containing 15 taquitos labeled as “José Olé Taquitos Chicken and Cheese Polly y Queso in Flour Tortillas” with a best by date of “09 JUL 2021,” “14 JUL 2021” or “17 JUL 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
- 55.5-oz cartons containing 37 taquitos labeled as “José Olé Value Pack Taquitos Chicken and Cheese Pollo y Queso in Flour Tortillas” with a best if used by date of “15 JUL 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
- 60-oz. cartons containing 60 taquitos labeled as “José Olé Taquitos Beef Carne de res in Corn Tortillas” with a best if used by date of “9 JUL 2021” or “10 JUL 2021,” and “EST 5590” printed on the side panel.
- 5-oz individual plastic bag containing “José Olé Chimichangas Loaded Beef Nacho” with a best by date of “15 JUL 2021” and “EST. 17417” printed on the label.
The contamination problem was discovered by Ajinomoto Foods North America personnel who identified pieces of hard plastic in a barrel of diced green chilies that was received from their ingredients supplier, Sun Valley Foods. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products.
Questions about the recall may be put to Willis Hwang, consumer affairs manager at Ajinomoto Foods, by telephoning +1 855 742-5011.
