Hormel Foods Recalls Ready-To-Eat Frozen Chicken Products Over Possible Metal Contamination

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 25, 2025) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that Hormel Foods Corporation is recalling nearly 4.9 million pounds of its ready-to-eat frozen chicken products after pieces of metal were found in several batches. According to the FSIS, the recall affects multiple foodservice chicken breast and thigh items distributed nationwide to hotels, restaurants, and institutional food service providers.

Hormel Foods recall: quick summary

Hormel Foods Corporation, headquartered in Austin, Minnesota, issued a major recall of its frozen, ready-to-eat chicken products after reports of metal contamination. Regulators said the issue came to light following customer complaints from foodservice buyers. Hormel Foods produced the affected products between February 10 and September 19, 2025, under establishment number P-223 within the USDA mark of inspection.

Officials have not confirmed any injuries or adverse reactions, but urge businesses to stop serving or selling these items. They advise consumers to discard any affected product immediately.

What happened?

The FSIS said Hormel Foods initiated the recall after receiving multiple complaints from commercial foodservice clients who discovered metal fragments in their frozen chicken breast and thigh meat products. The company traced the contamination back to a damaged conveyor belt used during production.

The recall includes several varieties of Hormel Fire Braised Meats All Natural Boneless Chicken Breast and Thigh Meat, sold in 13.8 to 23.8-lb. cases. Hormel shipped the affected lots across the United States to hotels, restaurants, and institutions through its commercial distribution network.

According to the FSIS, foreign material contamination in food products may cause injury and should not be served or consumed.

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC / Item Code	Best by date	Issue	Affected areas
Hormel	Fire Braised Meats All Natural Boneless Chicken Thigh Meat	13.9 lb	65009	Various	Metal fragments	Nationwide
Hormel	Fire Braised Meats All Natural Boneless Chicken Breast	13.8 lb	77531 / 46750 / 86206	Various	Metal fragments	Nationwide
Hormel	Boneless Chicken Breast with Rib Meat	13.95 lb	134394	Various	Metal fragments	Nationwide

What caused the issue?

According to the FSIS notice, Hormel Foods discovered that metal pieces from a conveyor belt had broken off and entered the production line. While no injuries have been reported, ingesting metal fragments can cause mouth injuries, internal damage, or choking hazards.

The agency emphasized that high-risk groups (including children, older adults, and people with swallowing difficulties) should be especially cautious.

Questions you might have

What should I do if I have already served or eaten this product?
If you believe you may have consumed metal-contaminated chicken, contact a healthcare provider immediately. Monitor for mouth or throat pain and avoid consuming any remaining product.

How can I identify if I have the recalled product?
Look for the establishment number P-223 inside the USDA mark of inspection and the listed item codes on the case label.

Have any injuries been reported?
As of October 25, 2025, no confirmed injuries or illnesses have been reported related to this recall.

Here’s what you should do

• Do not serve or sell the product
• Dispose of it or return it to the distributor
• Check labels for establishment number “P-223”
• For questions or refunds, contact Hormel Foods Customer Relations at 1-800-523-4635 or visit Hormel Foods

Behind the brand

Founded in 1891, Hormel Foods Corporation is a leading U.S. food company recognized for its brands, including Spam and Applegate.

In a statement to Source86, Hormel Foods said:

“Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling 215,258 cases, or 4,874,815 total pounds, of five HORMEL® FIRE BRAISED™ items sent to foodservice operators throughout the United States as they may contain extraneous metal material. No other HORMEL® products are affected, and no illnesses or injuries have been reported in association with this recall.”

“This product is only sold to foodservice customers and cannot be purchased directly by consumers. All customers that may have received the affected product have been properly notified.”

Other relevant recalls

Earlier this year, other companies, including Pacific Meridian and LSI, Inc., issued similar recalls linked to metal contamination.

According to the FDA, “metal-to-metal contact, worn or broken equipment parts, and equipment with metal parts that can break loose are likely sources of metal that may enter food during processing.” Industry specialists at Detectamet also note that metal fragments often originate from “machinery, cutting tools and utensils [that] can wear down over time.”

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, added:

“While the Hormel recall highlights a specific issue, it underscores a broader truth: food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust and transparency.”

Ensuring safe eats

This large-scale recall serves as a reminder to the industry of the importance of maintaining vital equipment, overseeing suppliers, and tracking batches to prevent contamination. Consumers and foodservice operators should verify inventory and stay updated on recall alerts.

At Source86, we help brands maintain supply chain transparency, private label production integrity, and food safety compliance, ensuring that when recalls happen, companies can act fast and responsibly. Contact us.

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