Health alert issued for frozen taquitos over possible plastic contamination

Federal regulators warned consumers in El Paso, Texas about ready-to-eat frozen meat items that might contain hard plastic pieces. The alert affects nearly a dozen varieties of rolled Mexican entrees shipped to stores nationwide.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the alert. The agency stated that no confirmed adverse reactions have been reported.

The affected items contain FDA regulated diced green chiles. Supplier Sun Valley Foods LLC recalled the chiles in El Paso, Texas.

Producer Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. made the items at facilities in Lampasas, Texas and San Diego, California. Staff discovered hard plastic pieces during processing and inside an ingredient barrel.

Sun Valley Foods, LLC then started a recall through the FDA. Officials urged anyone worried about an illness to contact a doctor.

The alert applies to items with establishment numbers EST P5590, P5590 or EST. 17417 printed above the expiration date:

• 19.2-oz. carton containing 16 pieces labeled as “Great Value Flour Chicken Taquitos Tortillas Stuffed with All White Chicken Meat & Monterey Jack Cheese” with a best if used by date of “11 JUL 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
• 20-oz carton containing 20 pieces labeled as “CASA MAMITA BEEF TAQUITOS ROLLED IN CORN TORTILLAS” with a best by date of “26 JUN 2021” and “EST 5590” printed on the side panel.
• 22.5-oz carton containing 15 pieces labeled as “CASA MAMITA CHICKEN AND CHEESE TAQUITOS ROLLED IN FLOUR TORTILLAS” with a best by date of “26 JUN 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
• 15-oz. carton containing 15 taquitos labeled as “JOSÉ OLÉ TAQUITOS CHICKEN AND CHEESE POLLO Y QUESO IN FLOUR TORTILLAS” with a best by date of “08 JUL 2021” or “18 JUL 2021,” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
• 20-oz. carton containing 20 taquitos labeled as “JOSÉ OLÉ TAQUITOS BEEF CARNE DE RES IN CORN TORTILLAS” with a best by date of “08 JUL 2021” and “EST 5590” printed on the side panel.
• 22.5-oz carton containing 15 taquitos labeled as “JOSÉ OLÉ TAQUITOS CHICKEN AND CHEESE POLLO Y QUESO IN FLOUR TORTILLAS” with a best by date of “09 JUL 2021,” “14 JUL 2021” or “17 JUL 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
• 55.5-oz carton containing 37 taquitos labeled as “JOSÉ OLÉ VALUE PACK TAQUITOS CHICKEN AND CHEESE POLLO Y QUESO IN FLOUR TORTILLAS” with a best if used by date of “15 JUL 2021” and “P5590” printed on the side panel.
• 60-oz. carton containing 60 taquitos labeled as “JOSÉ OLÉ TAQUITOS BEEF CARNE DE RES IN CORN TORTILLAS” with a best if used by date of “9 JUL 2021” or “10 JUL 2021,” and “EST 5590” printed on the side panel.
• 5-oz. individual plastic bag containing “JOSÉ OLÉ CHIMICHANGAS LOADED BEEF NACHO” with a best by date of “15 JUL 2021” and “EST. 17417” printed on the label.

Public health alerts notify consumers when products cannot be formally recalled because they are no longer sold in stores. The inspection service shares label images online so buyers can check their home freezers.

Labels for all listed items are posted on the USDA website. The company produced them across operations in Lampasas and San Diego.