Vienna Beef has recalled more than 2,000 pounds of hot dogs over potential metal contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced over the weekend.
The recall from the Chicago-based beef company includes several cases of beef frank links that were shipped to food service locations in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, according to the USDA.
The problem, which the USDA says includes contamination from "extraneous materials, specifically metal," was discovered by Vienna Beef and reported to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the department said.
"There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider," the recall states.
The USDA, listing the recall as a "high" health risk, urged "food service institutions" who may have the hot dogs not to consume them, but to instead throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
According to Tom McGlade, Vienna Beef's vice president of marketing, the affected hot dogs were not sold at retail locations or online and all restaurants that received the product have since been identified and notified.
"We’re comfortable that everybody is safe," he said. "It didn’t go to any kind of retail establishment."
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It remains unclear how the metal contamination may have occured, but McGlade said the recall, which included 203 cases, was issued voluntarily.
The recall includes:
• 10-lb. cases containing “SKINLESS BEEF FRANKFURTERS 6” 8’s 10#” with case code 013180 and package code 9122 represented on the label.
• 10-lb. cases containing “SKINLESS BEEF FRANKFURTERS 6” 11’s 10#” with case code 013312 and package code 9122 or 9123 represented on the label.
• 10-lb. cases containing “SKINLESS BEEF FRANKFURTERS 7” 9’s 10#” with case code 013490 and package code 9122 or 9123 represented on the label.
