Mislabeled Frozen Entrees Recalled

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2012 – Nestlé Prepared Foods Company, a Gaffney, S.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 16,890 pounds of Stouffer’s lasagna frozen entrées that may instead contain stuffed peppers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The stuffed peppers contain Worcestershire sauce made with anchovies, a known allergen that is not declared on the lasagna labels.

The following products are subject to recall:

19 1/8-oz (542-g) cartons of “Stouffer’s Lasagna Italiano” with a “best before” date of “JAN 2014”

Shipping cases of “Stouffers DS STFD Peppers,” each containing 12 cartons that may be labeled with “Stouffer’s Lasagna Italiano”

Each carton and case bears the establishment number “EST. 7991.” The cartons and cases also bear the package code “1349595513R” or “1349595513S.” No other package codes are affected by this recall. Additionally, each 19 1/8-oz. carton contains an identifying retail UPC code “13800 44709.” The products subject to recall were produced on Dec. 15, 2011, and were shipped to retail establishments east of the Mississippi River.

The problem was brought to the company’s attention by two consumer complaints. The problem may have occurred when the lasagna packaging materials remained in the packaging machinery when the company began packaging stuffed pepper entrées. FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and to ensure that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers with questions about the recall should call Nestlé Consumer Services at 1-800-392-4057. Media with questions regarding the recall should contact Roz O’Hearn, Manager, Nestlé Division and Brand Affairs, at (440) 264-5170.

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. “Ask Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. 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 l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.