Frozen Peas Recalled Due to Glass Fragments

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Pictsweet Recalls Frozen Peas That Were Sold in Walmart and Kroger Stores

By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Laura J. Martin, MD

Oct. 18, 2010 -- About 24,000 pounds of frozen green peas and other vegetables supplied by the Pictsweet Co. of Bells, Tenn., are being recalled from Walmart and Kroger stores because the products sold in 12-ounce containers may contain broken glass.

Pictsweet says in a statement on the FDA's web site that the recall is voluntary and was issued after it learned that some packages may contain glass fragments, which the company's statement says "may cause injury" if eaten.

Anne Tyrrell, a spokeswoman for a public relations firm representing Pictsweet, tells WebMD that the recall involves one lot of green peas and other frozen vegetables shipped to Kroger stores in the Southeast and to Walmart facilities east of the Rocky Mountains.

The number of stores involved is not known, and their exact locations could not be determined.

The company could not say how many packages are involved in the recall.

Melissa hill, a spokeswoman for Walmart, says she doesn't know how much of the 24,000 pounds of recalled vegetables went to Walmart stores or Kroger stores.

Kroger could not be reached by publication time for comment or more information about stores in which the potentially harmful products might be found.

The FDA says in a statement that vegetables involved in the recall should not be eaten.

Products Involved in Recall

Items in the recall include:

• Kroger 12 ounce green peas (UPC 11110 89736), production codes 1440BU, 1440BV, 1440BW and 1600BD.
• Kroger 12 ounce peas and carrots (UPC 11110 89741), production codes 1960BD and 1960BE.
• Great value 12 ounce steamable sweet peas (UPC 78742 08369), best by dates of July 20, 2012, and July 21, 2012.
• Great Value 12 ounce steamable mixed vegetables (UPC 78742 08026), best by date of July 15, 2012.

The company says consumers with questions should contact Pictsweet at 800-367-7412, extension 417, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time, Monday through Friday.

Pictsweet says it issued the voluntary recall after learning that four packages contained "small glass fragments." It says the contaminated packages containing peas were traced back to a single lot and retailers have taken steps "to remove all potentially contaminated products from their shelves."

The company says it reported the potential problem to the FDA, distributors, and retailers.

"In all cases that contamination was reported, the fragments were identified and were never consumed," the company says. "No injuries have been reported and customers in possession of a potentially contaminated product are encouraged to contact the company or return the product to its place of purchase for a full refund.

Pictsweet says that "while this has been isolated to one lot of peas, the company has established a task force that is currently conducting a top-to-bottom review to ensure that this does not happen in the future."

SOURCES: News release, FDA.

News release, Walmart.

News release, Pictsweet Co.

Anne Tyrrell, Prism Public Affairs, Washington, D.C.

Melissa Hill, spokeswoman, Walmart.

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