The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced a food alert for a host of own brand, frozen, ready-to-eat meals with rice, due to the possible presence of small fragments of glass.
The FSA told just-food that the scare was sparked by a consumer complaint earlier this week, with quite a few further contaminations reported since.
Asda, Birds Eye and Sainsbury’s Supermarkets have recalled the products involved, which included Asda Sweet & Sour Chicken 500g best before 16 and 17Oct 2007, Birds Eye Chicken Curry with Rice Ready Meal 400g with certain batch codes, and Sainsbury’s Sweet & Sour Battered Chicken 500g best before Oct 2007.
The FSA said that Kerry Group-owned Rye Valley Foods manufactured the contaminated ready meals. However, glass was found in the rice content of the meals, which was imported from the US.
Rye Valley spokesperson Frank Hayes told just-food: “This action has followed 20 complaints from consumers who had identified tiny fragments of glass in their ready meals produced by Rye Valley Foods, and distributed by a number of retailers.”

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By GlobalDataThe Irish manufacturer described the pieces of glass as rounded with no sharp edges.
“Having identified the problem we then entered consultation with the FSA. We have not found any other evidence of this since, it was an isolated and regrettable situation. We wanted to take this action to maintain maximum safety for the consumer,” Hayes added.
For full list of affected products visit the FSA website.