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Hormel Foods is recalling nearly 4.9 million pounds of frozen chicken products after metal fragments were discovered, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Saturday.

The recall affects ready-to-eat chicken sold to restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice providers.

The metal pieces, measuring roughly 2mm by 17mm, were traced to a conveyor belt used in production, FSIS said.

The issue came to light after multiple foodservice customers reported finding metal in frozen chicken breast and thigh products.

"Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling 215,258 cases, or 4,874,815 total pounds, of five HORMEL® FIRE BRAISED™ items sent to foodservice operators throughout the United States as they may contain extraneous metal material," the company told FOX Business.

The recalled products include bulk cases of boneless chicken breast and thigh meat weighing 13 to 24 pounds, with item codes 65009, 77531, 46750, 86206, and 134394.

They were distributed nationwide between February 10 and September 19, 2025. FSIS and Hormel emphasized that the products were not sold in grocery stores or directly to consumers.

"This product is only sold to foodservice customers and cannot be purchased directly by consumers. All customers that may have received the affected product have been properly notified," Hormel said.

Restaurants Told to Discard Hormel Chicken

FSIS warned that some of the chicken may still be stored in commercial kitchens. "These businesses are urged not to serve the product.

This product should be thrown away," the agency said. Hormel confirmed that no illnesses or injuries have been reported in connection with the recall.

According to AP News, customers with questions about the recall can contact Hormel Foods through the company website or by calling 1-800-523-4635. The company stressed that no other Hormel products are affected.

This recall highlights the importance of food safety checks in commercial kitchens. Restaurants, hotels, and other foodservice providers are being asked to carefully review their frozen chicken stock to ensure the recalled products are removed and discarded.

Hormel Foods, based in Austin, Minnesota, has a long history of producing frozen and packaged meats for commercial and consumer markets.

The company acted quickly to notify its foodservice customers and work with FSIS to prevent any potential harm.