FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Kirkland Signature Chicken Tortilla Soup Product Due to Misbranding

For Immediate Release

September 13, 2023

Contact Information

Customer Relationship Manager at Kettle Cuisine
Jacqui Valerio
619-409-1100
jvalerio@kettlecuisine.com

Company Announcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for a ready-to-eat (RTE) Kirkland Signature chicken tortilla soup product due to misbranding. The label declares the product as gluten-free, a false negative claim. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers with reactions to gluten are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected products are no longer available for purchase.

The ready-to-eat chicken tortilla soup items were produced on July 26, 2023. The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]:

• 2-lb. tubs containing "KIRKLAND Signature CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP WITH WHITE CHICKEN MEAT" with "USE BY: 11/23/23" and lot code 1394066 printed on the side of the cup just below the lip.

The products bear establishment number "P-18468" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that laboratory testing found gluten in the chicken tortilla soup, which is labeled as gluten-free.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Members of the media with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Andrew Hearns, EVP of Quality and Food Safety at Kettle Cuisine, at 617-409-1100 or ahearns@kettlecuisine.com. Consumers with questions can contact Jacqui Valerio, Customer Relationship Manager at Kettle Cuisine, at 619-409-1100 or jvalerio@kettlecuisine.com .

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854)or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.