WASHINGTON – The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Jan. 15 announced a recall of approximately 762,615 lbs of not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pepperoni hot pockets made by Nestlé Prepared Foods, based in Mt. Sterling, Ky. The product may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of glass and hard plastic.

The frozen NRTE pepperoni hot pockets product was produced from Nov. 13, 2020, through Nov. 16, 2020, and bears establishment number “EST. 7721A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The product was shipped to retail locations nationwide. The product has a shelf life of 14 months.

The following product is subject to recall:

• 54-oz carton packages containing 12 “Nestlé HOT POCKETS BRAND SANDWICHES: PREMIUM PEPPERONI MADE WITH PORK, CHICKEN & BEEF PIZZA GARLIC BUTTERY CRUST” with a “BEST BEFORE FEB 2022” date and lot codes 0318544624, 0319544614, 0320544614, and 0321544614.

The problem was discovered when the company received four consumer complaints of extraneous material found in the pepperoni hot pockets.

Nestlé Prepared Foods has received one report of a minor oral injury associated with consuming the product. FSIS has received no additional reports of injury or illness from consumption of this product.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased this product should not consume it – instead, the product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.