By SDCN Staff
Washington, D.C.–The Hillshire Brands Company has issued a massive recall of approximately 58 million pounds of corn dog and sausage on a stick products due to possible contamination with wood pieces embedded in the batter, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Saturday.
The affected products were packaged between March 17 and September 26 and bear establishment numbers “EST-582” or “P-894” printed on the packaging. They were sold online and distributed nationwide to retail stores, food service providers, school districts, and Department of Defense facilities.
Although the items reached schools, officials emphasized they were not part of the USDA’s National School Lunch Program but instead were sold through commercial channels.
The issue was uncovered after Hillshire Brands, based in Haltom City, Texas, received multiple consumer complaints. At least five cases involved injuries. The company’s investigation determined that wooden sticks had entered the production line before the battering process. FSIS said it has not received further reports of injury but urged anyone concerned to seek medical attention.
Officials warned that recalled products may still be stored in home, school, or institutional freezers. Consumers and organizations are advised to discard the items or return them to the point of purchase.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service said it will continue recall effectiveness checks to ensure the products are removed from circulation. A full retail distribution list will be made available on the agency’s website.
For questions about the recall, consumers may contact Christina Self, Hillshire Brands’ associate director of customer care, at (888) 747-7611. General food safety questions can be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or emailed to MPHotline@usda.gov.
