USDA Recalls 25,000 Lbs of Chicken
- The USDA's FSIS has recalled 24,900 pounds of frozen Buffalo chicken products from Boston-based Shanghai Ravioli Corporation, distributed to five New England states.
- The recall was triggered by false marks of inspection on the packaging, meaning the products were made without valid federal oversight.
- The action is classified as Class I — the highest-risk tier — as uninspected food may harbour undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants.
The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a recall covering approximately 24,900 pounds of frozen chicken products distributed to foodservice businesses across five New England states, citing false marks of inspection on the packaging.
What has been recalled and why
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Wednesday, 26 August, that two products from Boston-based Shanghai Ravioli Corporation, Inc. are being withdrawn: "Buffalo chicken rangoon" and "Benedetto's Buffalo chicken mozzarella sticks." Both are frozen, not-ready-to-eat items. According to the FSIS, surveillance found the products bearing a false establishment mark — "EST. 18004" — meaning they were produced without valid federal inspection.
The recall affects foodservice operators in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Businesses have been urged not to serve the products and to discard them or return them to the point of purchase.
Health risk classification
The FSIS has designated the recall a Class I action, which it applies when "there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death." The agency warns that food produced without proper inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants.
Importing questions remain unresolved
The precise origin of the chicken used in the products has not been confirmed. The FSIS imagery of the recalled items does not display a country of origin, and it remains unclear whether the chicken was sourced domestically or imported. An industry trade publication describes Shanghai Ravioli Corporation as a distributor of pasta and other goods, which would be consistent with an importing role, though that has not been established by the FSIS notice. The agency has separately recalled soup and bacon products of Canadian origin on similar grounds in recent months, suggesting a broader pattern of enforcement activity around uninspected imported animal-sourced foods — though no direct connection to Wednesday's action has been confirmed.
The recall underscores the continuing pressure on supply-chain traceability in the food sector. France, too, has been grappling with rising dependence on imported chicken as domestic production struggles to meet demand — a tension that regulators in multiple markets are increasingly scrutinising.
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