InnovAsian Frozen Chicken Entrée Recall Impacts Walmart Stores Nationwide
If you recently purchased any InnovAsian frozen entrées from Walmart or another retailer, you may want to check your packaging to see if it's the subject of a recent food recall. On December 15, 2022, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Mountain View Packaging, LLC was voluntarily recalling 6,103 pounds of frozen Crispy Chicken with Almonds entrée products under the InnovAsian brand, due to mislabeling and concerns that the product may contain an undeclared allergen (shrimp). The issue was discovered when a consumer discovered shrimp in their chicken entrée.
The products affected are 18.5-oz packages of InnovAsian Crispy Chicken with Almonds produced on November 17,2022, with a best by date of 05/24/2023, and bearing the lot code 22321-1 and UPC code of 695119120499. These entrée products were shipped to different retailers across the country, including Walmart, which has the product listed under its product recalls page, along with a list of affected stores. The recall affected more than 1,300 Walmart stores across 29 states. Consumers who purchased these products can return them to the store of purchase, or call InnovAsian at 1-800-324-5140 to obtain a full refund or replacement.
This recall can affect people with seafood allergies
The consumption of undeclared allergens by individuals with allergies can result in potentially serious health issues. Per the National Institute of Health, 2.3% of the US population, or 6.6 million Americans, report having a seafood allergy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of an allergic reaction to shellfish can include itching, hives, tingling, swelling, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, stomach issues, dizziness, and even anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction. So far, there have not been any confirmed reports of any adverse reactions from anyone consuming the affected products.
Although more than 160 foods are known to cause allergic reactions, eight categories (milk, eggs, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybean) account for around 90% of allergic reactions to food, and the FDA requires specific labeling for these eight items, notes Casetext. Despite laws in the US and around the world requiring labeling of allergens, food recalls related to undeclared allergens remain the most common cause of recalls (via Science Direct). If you have a food allergy, it pays to always check food labels, and pay attention to recall notices.