Santa Fe Importers, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Chicken Products due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

Class II Recall
Release: 050-2019
Health Risk: Low
Date: May 7, 2019

Congressional and Public Affairs
Felicia Thompson  
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2019 – Santa Fe Importers, Inc., a Long Beach, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,589 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken meatball products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the products label.  

The frozen, RTE chicken Thai-style meatballs were produced and packaged on April 24, 2019. The following products are subject to recall:  [View Labels (PDF only)]

• 226 cases containing “lemonade CHICKEN THAI STYLE MEATBALL” with packaging date “04/24/2019” and case code “114-102130” on the labels.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-4118” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a distribution center in California and packed for Lemonade restaurants as indicated on the label.                                  

Santa Fe Importers, Inc. notified FSIS of the problem after the company learned that the bread crumbs used to make the meatballs contained soy lecithin.  

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 products may be in restaurant 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.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms are notifying their customers of the recall and that actions are being taken to make certain that the products are no longer available to consumers. 

Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Jorge Endara, General Manager of Santa Fe Importers, Inc., at (562) 437-7775 or at Jorge@SanteFeImporters.com.  

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. 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 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.