Lean Cuisine chicken meals recalled

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Thousands of packages of frozen Lean Cuisine chicken meals are being recalled because they may contain foreign matter, the U.S. food safety watchdog said.

Nestle Prepared Foods Co. is recalling about 879,565 pounds of the meals, the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food and Safety Inspection Service said Tuesday in a news release.

Nestle identified the objects as small pieces of hard plastic.

Subject to recall are:

-- 9.5-ounce packages of "Lean Cuisine Pesto Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta" Printed on each side of each package is a production code of "8280595912" and a use-by date of "Best Before MAY 2010."

-- 10.5-ounce packages of "Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean." Printed on the side of each package is a production code of "8231595912" or "8241595912" and a use-by date of "Best before SEP 2010"; a production code of "8263595912," "8269595911" or "8274595912," and a use-by date of "Best before OCT 2010"; or, a production code of "8291595912" or "8301595912" and a use-by date of "Best before NOV 2010."

-- 12.5-ounce packages of "Lean Cuisine Chicken Tuscan." Printed on the side of each package is a production code of "8234595911" and a use-by date of "Best before SEP 2009"; a production code of "8253595911" or "8269595912" and a use-by date of "Best before OCT 2009"; or, a production code of "8292595911" or "8296595911" and a use-by date of "Best before NOV 2009."

Each package has the USDA mark of inspection and the establishment number "EST P-9018." The frozen meals were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Nestle Consumer Services Center toll-free at 1-800-227-6188.