Hempler Foods Group, LLC Recalls Pepperoni Products due to Possible Extraneous Material Contamination

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2018 Hempler Foods Group, LLC, a Ferndale, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 4,068 pounds of pepperoni sticks products that may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The pepperoni stick items were produced on Oct. 10, 2017. The following product is subject to recall: [ View Label (PDF only)] 2.25-lb. vacuum-packed packages containing HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with a packed on date of 10/10/2017 and case code 59716. The product subject to recall bears establishment number EST. 6410 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were distributed for institutional use and shipped to retail locations in Eastern Washington. The firm notified FSIS after receiving three consumer complaints, reporting small metal pieces in the pepperoni products. 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. 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 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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls . Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Arlie Jacobs, vice president of Sales and Marketing, at Hempler Foods Groups consumer line at (360) 312-1413. Media with questions about the recall can contact Stephen Bates, president and CEO of Hempler Foods Group at (360) 380-6696. 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 .