Murry’s Inc., a Lebanon, Pa. company, is recalling about 31,689 pounds of gluten-free breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with staphylococcal enterotoxin, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The frozen, uncooked products have a best by date of Aug. 9, 2015 and were distributed to retail locations nationally. The following products are subject to recall:

  • 12-oz. boxes of “Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets”
  • 10.5-oz. boxes of “Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast”

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The recalled products bear the establishment number “P-516” inside the USDA mark of inspection. 

Pause for an editorial note: We have to question anyone who claims to be concerned about their health who would buy a product whose label reads “Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets, Flavor and Moisture Assured With Up to 6% Marinade” to begin with. If a product has to “assure” you about its flavor and moisture, you're in trouble already. And “up to” 6 percent marinade? What if it's only 4 percent marinade? Or did they mean “up to 6 percent staph”? Also, this item has 470 mg of sodium per serving—that's 20 percent of your daily recommended amount. Nothing about this product's packaging looks reassuring. The photo looks like soggy, salty gluten-free chicken-bacteria balls. All right, back to the news.

The staph was discovered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture during a retail surveillance and sampling program. After being notified of the positive test result, FSIS conducted traceback activities.

Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness caused by eating foods contaminated with toxin-producing staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcal enterotoxins are fast-acting, sometimes causing illness in as little as 30 minutes (think the food-poisoning scene in Airplane). 

To date, FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. If you have concerns about the recall, you can contact Murry’s customer service at (717) 273-9361.

Tell then you like your breaded chicken gluten- and staph-free.

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