WASHINGTON– Alabama consumers should check their pantries for two varieties of Grace chicken Vienna sausages under a federal public health alert. The canned products entered the United States illegally from Jamaica and reached retailers in Alabama and four other states.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the alert Tuesday, Oct. 6. Jamaica is not eligible to export meat or poultry products to the United States, the agency said. Meanwhile, FSIS is investigating how the cans entered the country.

Specifically, the alert covers 140-gram cans of “Grace Ready to Eat Chicken Vienna Sausages” and “Grace Ready to Eat Chicken Vienna Sausages Hot & Spicy.” The alert also applies regardless of the date printed on the product. In addition, both varieties bear “EST. NO G-01” inside the Jamaican mark of inspection.

According to FSIS, the importer distributed the products to retail locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Texas. However, the agency did not identify particular stores in its alert. Inspectors found the problem during routine surveillance of imported products already in commerce.

What Consumers Should Do

FSIS urges anyone with either variety not to eat it. Instead, consumers should throw the cans away or return them to the place of purchase. The agency is concerned that some remain in household pantries.

However, FSIS has confirmed no illnesses or injuries linked to the products. Anyone concerned about an illness or injury should contact a health care provider.

Consumers can also compare their cans with the product label photographs released with the alert. For questions about the affected products, FSIS lists Sandra Campbell at 305-887-9523 or purecaribbeandist@gmail.com.

For food safety questions, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email MPHotline@usda.gov. Consumers can also report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product through the agency’s online complaint system.