Lean Cuisine Recall

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All the major news outlets are reporting that Nestle Prepared Foods Company issued a Class I recall of 879,565 pounds of frozen Lean Cuisine chicken meals that may contain small pieces of hard blue plastic.  Only one injury has been reported up to this point (7 complaints overall).  The following meals are impacted:

Cafe Classics Pesto Chicken
Spa Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean
Dinnertime Selects Chicken Tuscan

I’m really surprised this doesn’t happen more frequently with all the moving parts in a production plant.   I think the inspection process works (for the most part).  But who is to blame and how can this be prevented in the future?  Did the USDA inspection service drop the ball?  Was one of three frozen meal and entree plants at fault?  I’m sure these questions will get answered overtime but I doubt this oversight will have any negative impact on Nestle Prepared Foods.  Especially with no serious injuries being reported.  The convenience of these prepackaged meals outweighs the bad press (at the moment)

I honestly commend Nestle for not delaying to report the problem (with only receiving 7 complaints overall).  At the end of the day, they are the ones taking the financial hit.  Does this recall change your opinion on prepackaged foods?  Will you continue to buy Lean Cuisine in the future?  Let us know what you think by commenting below!

Editors Note: The impacted dinners were produced between Aug. 18 and Oct. 27 2008.  O’Hearn (the spokesperson for Nestle Prepared Foods) said consumers can call 800-227-6188 to check the production codes on the side of Lean Cuisine packages and determine if their box has been recalled.