Tyson recalls nuggets over possible rubber contamination

SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS — Tyson has recalled its chicken nuggets due to possible rubber contamination.

More than 36,000 pounds of chicken nuggets by Tyson Foods may contain "extraneous materials, specifically rubber," according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture news release.

The USDA is classifying the recall as a Class I Recall. This means this is a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product could result in serious or adverse health consequences or even death.

The news release says the contaminated chicken nugget products labelled as "Tyson White Meat Panko Chicken Nuggets" were produced in November of last year.

Customers who purchased the nuggets had found "soft, blue rubber" inside the product, the New York Times reports.

Customers contacted the company, which is when the Food Safety and Inspection Service stepped in, according to the USDA.

Worth Sparkman, a spokesman for Tyson Foods, is cited by the New York Times as explaining that the rubber was part of a seal on a piece of equipment used to produce the chicken nuggets and was added into the nuggets blend.

Tyson Foods is now recalling more than 7,200 bags of chicken nuggets across the U.S., reports the New York Times.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service is urging those who have already purchased the product to either throw the nuggets away or return them to the store.