Health Advisory for Banquet Pot Pies

Health officials informed ConAgra Foods to stop all Banquet shipments of Pot Pies after a number of consumers had been diagnosed with salmonella, a common pathogens found in not-ready-to-eat poultry containing products like pot pies.

The company is advising consumers not to eat these products.

This advisory relates to Banquet brand frozen chicken or turkey pot pie products or generic store brand not-ready-to-eat pot pie products having the number "P-9" printed on the side of the package. The company considers the problem is possibly related to consumer undercooking of the product.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based company said if the consumer wished they could return the products to ConAgra Foods for refund by sending the side panel of the pack, which contained the code "P-9" to the company's headquarters at Omaha. Or else, if the consumers desire they may return the product to the store from which it was bought for a refund. The company said the consumers are advised to dump the product before returning the full package to the retail store.

The company further reminded consumers that these products are not ready-to-eat and should always thoroughly cook as per the instructions on the package. The cooking instructions for these products are explicitly designed to destroy the presence of common pathogens usually found in many uncooked products. Microwave cooking times differ as per the wattage of the microwave and as such, it is important that consumers carefully follow all instructions on the package.

In the meantime, the company is working with the USDA to identify any further steps that might be appropriate which included potential changes that might further spell out cooking directions for consumers. Already, the company is altering its packaging to more clearly illustrate different cooking times for Banquet pot pies pertaining to varying wattages of microwaves.

Health Advisory for Banquet Pot Pies

Health officials and ConAgra urge not to eat Banquet Pot Pies