WASHINGTON (AP) — Hormel Foods has issued a recall affecting nearly 4.9 million pounds of frozen boneless chicken products. This announcement was made on Saturday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The affected chicken items were primarily sold to restaurants, cafeterias, and various food service outlets across the nation.

The reason behind the recall stems from customer reports indicating the presence of metal pieces within the chicken breast and thigh products. An investigation by Hormel revealed that this metal contamination originated from a conveyor belt used during the production process. Fortunately, there have been no reports of illnesses or injuries linked to this issue to date.

The recalled products fall under the label of Hormel Fire Braised chicken items and were distributed to HRI Commercial Food Service, a supplier catering specifically to the restaurant industry. These products were shipped nationwide from February 10 through September 19. It is important to note that these items were not sold directly to consumers, but rather to various food service companies.

The FSIS has reported that some of the recalled chicken could still be found in freezers at hotels, restaurants, and cafeterias. Consumers are strongly advised to discard any of the recalled products to ensure safety. Hormel Foods has communicated with all customers who received these chicken items to ensure awareness of the recall.

For consumers seeking further information regarding the recall, Hormel Foods has made resources available on their company website, and they can also be reached directly by calling 1-800-523-4635.