Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Hill Country Fare Mustard Potato Salad recall: Potential Hard Plastic Foreign Material

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential Hard Plastic Foreign Material

Hill Country Fare Fresh produce — recalled fresh produceHill Country Fare Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Foreign material — hard plastic

The company found hard plastic in the product, or a customer did. Either way the recall covers every pack from the runs listed, because contamination of this kind is rarely confined to one unit.

What the notice says: Potential Hard Plastic Foreign Material

Why it matters: Pieces of hard plastic may be inside the product. The risk here is physical rather than microbial: cuts to the mouth or throat, a broken tooth, or an injury further down if a fragment is swallowed.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

If someone has swallowed a fragment and has mouth or throat pain, trouble swallowing, chest or stomach pain, vomiting, or blood in saliva or stool, they should be seen the same day. A fragment swallowed without symptoms usually passes on its own, but tell the clinician exactly what the product was: most plastics are invisible on a plain X-ray, so the history you give is what the decision rests on.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
July 2, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Hill Country Fare
Product type
Fresh produce
Distribution
Texas
Sold at
H-E-B
Reports of harm
No injuries have been reported.

Products covered by this recall

Mustard Potato Salad

What the company announced

Beaverton, OR July 2, 2024

Out of an abundance of caution, Reser’s Fine Foods is voluntarily recalling Hill Country Fare Mustard Potato Salad 48oz (3LB) with a Use By Date of JUL/26/24 due to the possibility of pieces of hard plastic foreign material in the package. No injuries have been reported.

This item was produced at a regional facility by Reser’s Fine Foods and distributed to H-E-B and Joe V’s Smart Shop locations in Texas only

All impacted product has been removed from the shelf. Consumers who purchased this product may return it to the store for a full refund or discard the item. Consumers who have questions regarding this recall may call Reser’s Fine Foods at the following number:

Consumer Inquiries:

888-223-2127

Monday-Friday

8:00am – 5:00pm Pacific Time

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • JUL/26/24

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 48 oz
  • 3 LB

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Plastic pieces

Hill Country Fare — The company found hard plastic in the product, or a customer did. Either way the recall covers every pack from the runs listed, because contamination of this kind is rarely confined to one unit.

  1. Stop eating it, and do not pick through it to find the fragment — sorting it by hand is how people get cut.
  2. Keep the pack if you can. If anyone was hurt, the fragment and the packaging together are the evidence that matters.
  3. Return it to the store or bin it sealed, and claim the refund using the lot code from the label.
  4. Check the freezer and the pantry for other packs carrying the same codes before you consider the matter closed.

Refunds, and what else you can claim

The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.

  • Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
  • If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
  • Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
  • Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who purchased this product may return it to the store for a full refund or discard the item.

Company contact: Reser’s Fine Foods — Consumers: 888-223-2127

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Hill Country Fare fresh produce recalled?

Potential Hard Plastic Foreign Material Potential Hard Plastic Foreign Material

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: best-by date JUL/26/24. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it, and do not pick through it to find the fragment — sorting it by hand is how people get cut.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who purchased this product may return it to the store for a full refund or discard the item.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Texas.

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