Global Culinary Investments, a Spring, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 1,331 pounds of chicken empanadas because they contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is not declared on the label, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The products subject to recall include:
10-lb. bulk cases, each containing 50 count bags of "Luca Chicken Empanada," bearing the identifying case code of "10853349004002."
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number "P-44923" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates from September 4, 2012 through November 21, 2012. The products have a best by date between March 4, 2013, and May 21, 2013.
The 10-lb bulk cases listed above were distributed for institutional use in the Houston, Texas area.
FSIS was alerted to the problem by Global Culinary Investments. The company discovered the problem when they reviewed their supplier's broth label. The company began producing this product on Sept. 4, 2012. FSIS and the company have received no reports of injury associated with the consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about injury should contact a healthcare provider.
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.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact the company's Chief Operating Officer, Juan Pablo Sarmiento, at (281) 298-1272.
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. 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.