Perdue Recalls Over 160,000 Pounds of Chicken Products After Metal Contamination Reports

Perdue Foods has issued a major recall of approximately 167,171 pounds of its frozen chicken products after customers reported finding metal wire in some packages. The recall affects a range of ready-to-eat chicken items, including nuggets and tenders, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The recall was triggered after multiple consumers discovered “metal wire embedded” in their chicken, leading Perdue to take immediate action. Jeff Shaw, Perdue’s Senior Vice President of Food Safety and Quality, confirmed that the metal was a thin strand unintentionally introduced during manufacturing. Shaw emphasized that the company is acting “out of an abundance of caution” by voluntarily recalling all affected products.

The products involved in this recall were produced in March 2024 and include:

• 22-oz. packages of Perdue Simply Smart Organics Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets
• 29-oz. packages of Perdue Chicken Breast Tenders
• 22-oz. packages of Butcherbox Organic Chicken Breast Nuggets

These items are packaged in vacuum-sealed bags with a ‘Best If Used By’ date of March 23, 2025. Consumers can identify the recalled products by checking for the establishment number “P-33944” on the back of the packaging.

While no confirmed injuries or adverse reactions related to the contamination have been confirmed, the FSIS has expressed concern that the products may still be in consumers’ freezers nationwide. The agency urges anyone who purchased these items to avoid eating them and either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase.