Hot sausages made in Alabama recalled due to possibility of contamination by metal bits

SELMA, Ala. (AP/FOX 10) -- An Alabama company has recalled tons of hot sausages because they may be contaminated with bits of metal.

The notice dated Sunday says the recall affects about 5.8 tons (5.26 metric tons) of chicken and pork sausage labeled as "red hots" -- some of them also labeled "extra hot." They all are 24-ounce (680-gram) packages holding about nine links of sausage with a use-by date of January 24. The sausages were made by Selma-based R. L. Zeigler Co., Inc.

The products, according to the statement, were shipped to retail locations nationwide. The company has been receiving complaints over the product on December 13 and 27, and notified the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service on Saturday, December 29.

The statement says there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products, but the USDA is concerned that some of the products may be in consumer's refrigerators. The items should be thrown away or taken back to the place of purchase.

The recall, according to the USDA, is classified as a "Class I" recall, which, according to USDA's classifications, represents a "health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report. FOX 10 reported on this story from Phoenix.