Miami, FL — Reports of Metal Pieces Prompts Recall of Taquitos Sold at Aldi Stores
15JanMiami, FL (January 14th, 2025) – Approximately 24,879 pounds of frozen taquitos were recalled from Aldi stores in several states, including Florida, this week. Packaged as Casa Mamita Chicken & Cheese Taquitos, the product is manufactured by Bestway Sandwiches Inc. Packages bear a UPC of 4061459337471, and feature best-by dates of July 3, 2025 and Sept. 25, 2025. The recalled taquitos may be contaminated with a foreign material.
If you suffer harm due to consuming contaminated food products, you have options. Our attorneys at Magazine & Light Law Group can help you recover compensation for your resulting medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call 727-499-9900 to schedule a free consultation.
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Types of Contamination Claims in Frozen Foods
Companies, like Bestway Sandwiches Inc., issue product recalls to help prevent injuries, illnesses, or deaths from dangerous or defective products. Despite steps throughout the distribution chain aimed at prevention, contamination can occur in various places during the manufacture and sale of frozen foods. Some of the most common claims involving contaminated frozen food products include issues such as:
Foodborne Illness
Foodborne illnesses, like food poisoning, are among the most common contaminated food product claims. Such illnesses may develop due to the presence of harmful bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli, and may result in severe gastrointestinal issues. Some consumers may also experience more serious complications, such as sepsis, meningitis, or death.
Chemical Contamination
Chemical contamination of food products may occur when chemicals like pesticides, heavy metals, or industrial pollutants come into contact with the food during production, processing, or transportation. Depending on the specific chemical, level of exposure, and other factors, consumers who eat food products contaminated with chemicals may experience acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, or allergic reactions.
Foreign Object Contamination
Despite safeguards, unintended objects sometimes end up in food. For instance, this includes metal shards from machinery, glass fragments from broken equipment, or plastic pieces from packaging. Consuming products contaminated with unintended foreign objects may result in oral injuries, digestive system injuries, or choking hazards.
At least one consumer reported suffering a dental injury after eating the recently-recalled frozen taquito product. The recall came after the injury report, and a report from another consumer who found a piece of metal in the product.
Allergen Contamination
Consumers may experience life-threatening allergic reactions when food products contain undeclared allergens. Eating products containing allergens, such as nuts, dairy, or shellfish, may result in serious reactions, including rashes, hives, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
Mislabeling
Incorrect labeling can also lead to dangerous food products hitting the market. Mislabeling may include making false or deceptive health claims, providing incorrect ingredient lists, or giving misleading serving size information.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Dangerous Food Products?
An experienced Clearwater defective products lawyer can help consumers hold negligent parties liable for injuries caused by contaminated or dangerous food products. Those who may bear responsibility for defective food products include:
- Manufacturers
- Distributors
- Retailers
- Restaurants
- Food service providers
Consumers who suffer injuries or develop illnesses may pursue compensation from these parties based on strict liability, negligence, or breach of warranty, depending on the circumstances of their cases.
Proving Negligence in Florida Product Defect Cases
To prove negligence in a Florida product liability case involving food, injured consumers must generally establish the elements of duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. With the help of a Clearwater personal injury lawyer, successful consumers’ cases use evidence, including medical records, purchase records, product packaging, witness testimony, and expert testimony, to prove the elements of negligence.
What Compensation Can Consumers Recover?
Consumers who suffer injury or develop serious illnesses due to contaminated food products may seek compensation for their associated economic and non-economic losses. Such damages may include, for example, the medical costs resulting from the treatment of their foodborne illnesses, lost wages due to time missed from work because of the illness, and pain and suffering.
What Should You Do If You Suspect You Ate Contaminated Food?
The steps consumers take if they believe they have eaten a contaminated food product can profoundly affect their health, as well as their right to recover compensation. If consumers suspect they have become ill after eating a contaminated food product, they should:
Seek Medical Attention
In the event consumers suffer injury or begin to experience signs of having consumed a contaminated food product, they should seek medical attention right away. Getting immediate care may help ensure the early and effective treatment of their conditions, and help establish the cause of their injury or illness if legal action is required.
Document Their Symptoms
Consumers who develop foodborne illnesses or suffer injuries due to eating contaminated food products should keep detailed records. They should note when their symptoms began, the type of symptoms they have experienced, the severity of their symptoms, and the duration of their symptoms.
Gather Evidence
To establish that a product was defective, consumers will need to provide evidence. If possible, then, they should keep nay remaining portions of the suspected food product. Consumers are advised to keep the food packaging, as it may provide important information such as product name, manufacturer, and best-by date. It may also be hopeful to take pictures of the food product, the packaging, and any visible signs of contamination.
Report the Incident
Reporting contaminated foods to the appropriate authorities may help prevent others from suffering serious injury or illness. Consumers who suspect they have consumed contaminated food products should contact the manufacturer or distributor to report the incident, as well as the retailer where the product was purchased. It is also advisable for consumers to contact their local health department if they ate contaminated food products. The local health department can investigate the incident further, and take appropriate action, such as suggesting a recall.
Seek Legal Guidance
While some cases are minor, other incidents involving contaminated foods cause much more trouble than just an upset stomach. Consumers who suffer injury or illness due to defective food products may benefit from consulting with an experienced personal injury lawyer. An attorney will review their rights and help them determine the best course of action.
With more than 30 years of legal experience, our board-certified injury attorney at Magazine & Light Law Group is familiar with the physical, emotional, and financial challenges that may result from food-related injuries and illnesses. To discuss your options for pursuing compensation, contact us today at 727-499-9900.