You may have this Butterball ground turkey in your refrigerator or freezer. Here's how to know for sure.
Butterball Just Recalled Over 14,000 Pounds of Ground Turkey—Here’s Why
Updated on Dec. 16, 2021
The autumn months bring a spike in turkey purchases, whether it’s for Thanksgiving prep or to whip up an easy ground turkey recipe. Unfortunately, if you’ve bought a package of ground turkey recently, it might be time to take a second look at it. Butterball has recalled several packages of ground turkey—and with good reason.
What Caused This Turkey Recall?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced that some of the company’s ground turkey products were recalled after consumers found pieces of blue plastic in the packages.
The reports received by the agency and the company state that people have been finding the pieces embedded in ground turkey, and while no injuries have been reported yet, you definitely want to make sure you don’t accidentally eat any foreign objects.
How Do I Know If I Bought Affected Product?
The ground turkey items were produced on September 28, 2021 and distributed nationwide, so this is important to know regardless of which state you live in. The recall applies to the following products:
- 2.5-lb. trays containing “farm to family Butterball all natural Ground Turkey” with the case code 50211271, a sell or freeze by date of 10/18/2021, and timestamps from 2123 through 2302 printed on the packaging.
- 3-lb. tray containing “Kroger Ground Turkey” with the case code 50211271, a sell or freeze by date of 10/17/2021, and timestamps from 2314 through 2351 printed on the packaging.
The packages also have the establishment number “EST. P-7345” inside the USDA mark of inspection. If your ground turkey doesn’t have any of these codes or numbers, it should be safe to eat.
What Should I Do Next?
If you’ve bought one of the affected items, throw it away or return it to the place of purchase immediately. If you have questions about the recall, you can contact the Butterball Consumer Hotline at (800) 288-8372.
And when it comes to food safety, you should always be aware of how long meat lasts in the fridge and food-safe cooking temperatures.
Ground Chicken Recipes to Make Instead
Chicken StroganoffThis chicken stroganoff is seasoned with paprika and cooked in a succulent mushroom and onion cream sauce that perfectly clings to the egg noodles it's served with.
Chicken Parmesan BurgersA restaurant-quality burger that’s topped with marinara and loaded with cheese—what’s not to love? Fresh basil adds even more flavor if you'd like. —Brooke Petras, Alpine, California
Chicken NachosFlavorful and hearty chicken nachos feature delicious layers of protein, cheese, salsa and sour cream. They’re ideal for sharing and satisfying big crowds.
Pressure-Cooker Curried Chicken Meatball WrapsMy strategy to get picky kids to eat healthy: Let everyone assemble their dinner at the table. We love these easy meatball wraps topped with crunchy veggies and peanuts, sweet raisins and a creamy dollop of yogurt. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia
Vietnamese Chicken Meatball Soup with Bok ChoyThroughout Vietnam there are many kinds of soups, “canh,” served all year long. I particularly love enjoying this warm, flavorful bowl of Vietnamese chicken soup on laid-back weekends, but it's also great packed in a Thermos for lunch. It's the perfect bok choy soup, too! —Brenda Watts, Gaffney, South Carolina
Buffalo Chicken Meat LoafThis spicy Buffalo chicken meat loaf is a great way to spice up a plain chicken loaf. Enjoy it for dinner, then make a sandwich with the leftovers if there are any!
Easy White Chicken ChiliEasy white chicken chili comes together with hearty beans, ground chicken and a creamy broth. Dried herbs and chopped green chiles are all you need to season this comforting dish.
Chicken Pesto MeatballsThese tender, pesto-stuffed meatballs get gobbled up in our house. They're short on ingredients, but packed with flavor. I always make a double batch, freezing the other half for a busy night. —Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa
Orange-Glazed Chicken & Chorizo MeatballsThese tasty southwestern meatballs warm up a buffet. I add pomegranate seeds, jalapeno pepper jelly and cilantro to make everything pop with color. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Spinach & Chicken Phyllo PieFor a brunch showstopper, we make chicken pie with phyllo and spinach. Our kids go for it, too, especially when we serve it with a minty fruit salad. —Katie Ferrier Gage, Houston, Texas
Open-Faced Chicken Avocado BurgersTo dress up each chicken avocado burger, spread the Italian bread with creamy mayo and top with thick slices of fresh mozzarella and tomato. Serve with buttered boiled potatoes or a salad. —Lisa Hundley, Aberdeen, North Carolina.
Creamy Skinny Pasta CasseroleBaked pasta is a favorite potluck dish, so I altered some of the ingredients in my traditional recipe to make it lower in calories. Try this healthy pasta recipe with ground beef, too! —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee
Southwest-Style Wedding SoupI turned leftover ground chicken into meatballs and dreamed up this cozy southwestern soup. Now my Italian family asks for it over traditional wedding soup. —Teena Petrus, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Buffalo Chicken CalzonesCraving a spicy treat? Our buffalo chicken calzone is the answer. Enjoy the perfect balance of heat and bold flavors in this pizza turnover with a comfort food twist.
Gnocchi Chicken SkilletStovetop chicken and gnocchi recipes like this one make for a homey dinner in a hurry. Personalize it with your own favorite sauce and seasonings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Stovetop chicken and gnocchi recipes like this one make for a homey dinner in a hurry. Personalize it with your own favorite sauce and seasonings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Greek Chicken MeatballsIndulge in Mediterranean flavors with these irresistible Greek chicken meatballs. The juicy, tender meatballs blend aromatic herbs like mint and basil with lean ground chicken, garlic and feta cheese. But the real star of the show is the homemade tzatziki sauce. —Melanie C. Tritten, Charlotte, North Carolina
Baked Chicken BurritosOur baked chicken burritos recipe is wonderfully delicious thanks to loads of cheese, a delightful blend of spices and chicken broth that keeps the filling perfectly moist.
Feta-Dill Chicken BurgersI found fresh ground chicken at the butcher and gave it a whirl on our new grill. The result is these saucy burgers. Everybody went nuts—including my sister-in-law, an amazing cook! —Wendy Boughton, Victoria, British Columbia
Peanut Chicken Stir-FryMake a mouthwatering peanut chicken stir-fry with rice noodles, strips of chicken and a medley of colorful vegetables. This wholesome and flavorful meal is perfect for any occasion.
Chicken Taco PieThis is truly a family fave and is perfect for a busy night of rushing to soccer, swimming lessons or scouts. I put it together in the morning and pop it in the oven when we get home. —Karen Latimer, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Air-Fryer Egg RollsThis air-fryer egg roll recipe is a version of the tasty Chinese-American classic that's easier to make at home than you think!
Chicken Tamale PieBecause it cooks almost entirely in the slow cooker and uses a boxed cornbread mix, this two-layer chicken tamale pie is an easy and mostly hands-off dinner.
Chicken Florentine MeatballsServed over squash and a chunky, mushroom-tomato sauce, these tender meatballs are tops when it comes to great flavor. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Egg Roll in a BowlThis egg roll in a bowl recipe is like a deconstructed egg roll with savory fillings like ground chicken, mushrooms and cabbage, all tossed with rice. No frying necessary!
Guilt-Free Chicken ChiliThis chili is a keeper. Make it on Sunday and you get lunch for the rest of the week, too. —Amy Chalmers, Poughkeepsie, New York
Easy Buffalo Chicken Lettuce WrapsOne time when making sloppy joes, I wanted mine spicy, so I doused it in hot sauce. After that, my mind went wild and I made it Buffalo chicken-style with ground chicken, diced celery and blue cheese crumbles. I've been making it this way ever since. —Jennifer Nielson, Spanish Fork, Utah
Slow-Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs with GnocchiThese Italian-style slow-cooker Tuscan chicken meatballs with gnocchi are bright, tender, and couldn't be easier to make.
Open-Face Chicken Parmesan BurgersWe love chicken Parmesan and thought, "Why not make it a burger?" I like to use fresh mozzarella on these. I've also made the patties with ground turkey. —Charlotte Gehle, Brownstown, Michigan
