Durrant Pate/Contributor

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert for canned chicken Vienna-style sausages that federal officials say were illegally imported into the United States from Jamaica.

According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Jamaica is not currently eligible to export meat or poultry products to the United States.  As such, Federal officials are investigating how the products entered the country and reached retail stores nationwide.

The alert involves 140-gram cans of “Grace Ready To Eat Chicken Vienna Sausages” and “Grace Ready To Eat Chicken Vienna Sausages Hot & Spicy.” The products bear the establishment number “EST. NO G-01” inside the Jamaica mark of inspection.

Officials discovered the products during routine FSIS surveillance of imported foods being sold in the United States. It has been reported that no illnesses or injuries associated with the products have been confirmed.

However, FSIS officials are concerned that consumers may still have the sausages in their pantries and are urging anyone who purchased them not to eat them. They are advising that the products be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

When contacted this morning, Grace acknowledged the reports circulating in media houses in America and will be issuing a press release on the matter. At the time of publication of this article, the news release was not forthcoming.