21 Tons Of Johnsonville Sausages Recalled Over Plastic Contaminants

Over 20 tons of Wisconsin-made sausage links have recently been recalled due to foreign object contamination. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it was fine pieces of black plastic fiber found in one of the packages of Johnsonville's "Beddar Than Cheddar" smoked links that necessitated the massive recall of pork-based products.

The Sheboygan Falls-based sausage manufacturer pulled about 42,062 pounds of pork links from grocery store shelves as a result of the recall. The 14-ounce packages, which featured both smoked sausage and cheddar cheese, were being sold in eight U.S. states and had been available for several months, as the sausages were originally produced in late January 2023. Given this timeline, the FSIS believes packages of these pork sausages are still at large. Thus, consumers in Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas should check their refrigerators or freezers to ensure they're not at risk.

It's important to note, however, that no one has become ill to date from the pork sausage links. Foreign object contamination is one of the most common reasons for food recalls.

How to find out if you've purchased the recalled sausage links

There are two surefire ways to determine whether you've purchased recalled Johnsonville Beddar with Cheddar Smoked Sausage Links. All the recalled packages, for example, have the exact same establishment number — a labeling requirement for all food items with meat and eggs – as well as the same "best by" date. In the case of the former, the FSIS notes that the establishment number 34224 should be prominently displayed on the front of the packaging. As to the latter, all the recalled sausage links have a best by date of July 11, 2023, with the code C35 affixed.

If you have purchased these pork sausage links, the FSIS strongly cautions against eating them. Instead, either toss the product in the trash or you can take it back to the store where you originally bought it for a refund.