Almost 5 Million Pounds of Chicken Have Been Recalled Nationwide – Here’s What You Need To Know
‘Some products may be in the freezers of hotels, restaurants and institutions,’ the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service warns.
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Approach your chicken breasts and thighs with caution. Almost five million pounds of ready-to-eat frozen chicken products distributed to food-service establishments by Hormel Foods Corporation, of Austin, Minnesota, are being recalled because they may be contaminated with pieces of metal.
In an active nationwide recall announced on Saturday, October 25. the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said the approximately 4,874,815 chicken breast and thigh products affected by the recall were sent to HRI Commercial Food Service locations across the country between February 10 and September 19, 2025.
The agency said it was “concerned that some products may be in the freezers of hotels, restaurants and institutions” and urged the business to dispose of the products rather than serve them to customers.
The recalled products were sold only “to foodservice customers and cannot be purchased directly by consumers,” Hormel said in a press release, adding that all of the businesses that had received the recalled products had been “properly notified.”
Nevertheless, the recall is classified as the highest risk, or Class I. A Class I recall is defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as one in which “there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
Which Hormel chicken and thigh products are being recalled?
Hormel is voluntarily recalling the following products, which were shipped to foodservice locations nationwide, are being recalled:
- 13.9-pound cases containing “Hormel Fire Braised Meats All Natural Boneless Chicken Thigh Meat,” with labels printed with the item code “65009.”
- 13.8-pound cases containing 3-ounce “Hormel Fire Braised Meats All Natural Boneless Chicken Breast,” with labels printed with the item code “77531.”
- 13.8-pound cases containing 4-ounce“Hormel Fire Braised Meats All Natural Boneless Chicken Breast,” with labels printed with the item code “46750.”
- 23.8-pound cases containing 5-ounce“Hormel Fire Braised Meats All Natural Boneless Chicken Breast,” with labels printed with the item code “86206.”
- 13.95-pound cases containing “Boneless Chicken Breast With Rib Meat,” with labels printed with the item code “134394.”
All the products have a USDA mark of inspection with the establishment number “P-223” inside. The product labels feature a variety of pack dates. A full list and images of products subject to recall, including pack dates, can be found here and here.
Why are the products being recalled?
Hormel Foods has received “multiple complaints from foodservice customers finding metal in their frozen chicken breast and chicken thigh products,” according to the U.S.D.A. Food Safety and Inspection Service. “Hormel Foods determined that the metal originated from the conveyor belt used in production.”
So far, no illnesses or injuries resulting from consumption of the recalled products have been confirmed.
What are consumers being directed to do?
If you think you have been injured after consuming a chicken breast or thigh, you are urged to contact a healthcare provider.
If you have questions about the recall, you are directed to contact Hormel Foods Customer Relations via their website or by phone at 1-800-523-4635. General food safety questions can be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or MPHotline@usda.gov.
Issues with meat, poultry or egg products can be reported here.
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