FSIS urges the public to check homes for recalled meat, chicken entrees

Valley Fine Foods is recalling more than 35,000 pounds of refrigerated Simple Dishes brand pasta entrees containing meat and chicken after discovering the products might be contaminated with “spoilage organisms.”

The Forest City, NC, company reports it produced the recalled products from Aug. 15 through Oct. 4. The products are heat-treated, but are not fully cooked, according to a recall notice posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Some of the Simple Dishes products have Nov. 25 best-if-used-by dates, prompting FSIS to urge consumers to check their homes for the chicken and meat pasta dishes. No one should eat any of the recalled products. Company and government officials say the products should immediately be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

“The problem was discovered on Oct. 4 by the establishment’s (Valley Fine Foods) research and development department during routine internal testing. FSIS was notified on Oct. 10,” according to the recall notice. As of the posting of the notice Thursday evening, no confirmed illnesses had been reported in relation to the recalled products.

Valley Fine Foods shipped the Simple Dishes branded food to retail locations in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina. All four of the specific products subject to this recall have the establishment number “ P-22102B” or “M-22102B” printed on the side of the product packages.

Consumers can identify the recalled products by looking for the following label information:

• 12-oz. tray packages containing “SIMPLE DISHES Chicken Penne Alfredo” with case code #19034, case UPC code 1-07-42753-34709-0, and “BEST IF USED BY” “10/09/18” through “11/25/18” Unit UPC 7-42753-34709-3.
• 12-oz. tray packages containing “SIMPLE DISHES Chicken Primavera” with case code #19033, case UPC code 1-07-42753-34708-3, and “BEST IF USED BY” “10/09/18” through “11/25/18” Unit UPC 7-42753-34708-6.
• 12-oz. tray packages containing “SIMPLE DISHES Italian Sausage Ziti” with case code #19035, case UPC code 1-07-42753-34711-3, and “BEST IF USED BY” “10/09/18” through “11/25/18” Unit UPC 7-42753-34711-6.
• 12-oz.  tray packages containing “SIMPLE DISHES Rigatoni with Meatballs and a Mushroom Cream Sauce” with case code #19036, case UPC Code of 1-07-42753- 34710-6 and “BEST IF USED BY” “10/09/18” through “11/25/18” Unit UPC 7-42753-34710-9.

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 with questions regarding the recall can contact Valley Fine Foods customer service line at 844-833-6888.