Big Easy Foods recalls some stuffed chickens sold nationwide

A Louisiana food company is recalling some stuffed chickens sold nationwide because the label didn't show wheat, a potential allergen.

Big Easy Foods LLC of Lake Charles has not received any reports of allergic reactions from the cooked and raw chickens stuffed with pork sausage and potatoes, managing partner Larry Avery said Wednesday.

He said wheat, a minor ingredient in chicken base used to flavor the stuffing, made up less than one-tenth of 1 percent of total ingredients.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture was notified and the chicken base was removed from the recipe after an inspection revealed that a recipe change made 2½ years ago to include the flavoring had not been reflected in the label, Avery said.

All recalled products have an expiration date before June 9, 2017, he said.

USDA said the recall affected 93,000 pounds of products. That's about 31,000 stuffed chickens, Avery said. He said much of that likely has been eaten, since it covers the past 2½ years of production.

Retailers shown on the company's website include Sam's Club, Walmart and many smaller chains and independent groceries. Sam's Club and Walmart do not sell the chicken with pork sausage and potatoes, which were the only products recalled, Avery said.

Other products made by the company include stuffed boneless chickens with six stuffings, such as cornbread, crawfish and broccoli, cheese and rice; 13 entrees such as gumbos, etouffees and jambalaya, and "Tur-Duc-Hens"—a stuffed boneless chicken inside a boneless duck inside a boneless turkey—with six different stuffings.

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