Hot Pockets Recalled for Containing Potentially Contaminated Meat

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Hot Pockets Recalled for Containing Potentially Contaminated Meat

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended operations at a California meat company because of unsanitary conditions at the establishment, the department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Wednesday. The Central Valley Meat Co. in Hanford, California, supplies beef for federal nutrition programs. This news comes after the USDA already recalled more than 8.7 million pounds of meat from the Rancho Feeding Corp., stating it “processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection.” In conjunction, two brands of hot pockets have been recalled – Hot Pockets Philly Steak and Cheese in three different package sizes, and Hot Pockets Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese in the two-pack box.

What Can Consumers Do?

Consumers should check their batch numbers in regards to the recall—that list can be found here. If you have purchased a product labeled with one of the listed batch numbers that has been recalled, you should not consume the product but instead return it to where you purchased it for a full refund, or contact Nestle Consumer services at (800) 392-4057. Consuming products that have been deemed unsafe can cause severe illness and recalls should be taken seriously. So far, though the USDA has not noted any illnesses in connection to these products, the recall should be treated as though these products may pose a threat if consumed.  If you have become ill or have experienced ill effects after eating the products found in these batches, contact a personal injury lawyer and make sure to collect as much information regarding your condition as possible.

Manufacturer Responsibility Regarding Products

Product liability is something that every manufacturer has to deal with. They are responsible for providing safe products to consumers, and that includes all consumer products, such as food, toys, electronics, drugs, real estate, clothing, furniture, motor vehicles, maps, medical devices, home and office appliances, and more. When standards of safety and health are not upheld, consumers have the right to seek compensation if they encountered any personal issues or injury as a direct result of using the products. For more information on holding a manufacturer liable for an unsafe product, contact a skilled personal injury lawyer, such as the professionals at Malman Law in Chicago. A lawyer will be able to go over the details with you and determine whether there is a case present.