Simplot Traditional Tater Gem. Net Wt. 30 lb. (13.6 kg), foodservice corrugated case, 6/5 lbs. clear poly bags per case. UPC = 100 71179 00418 9.

Recall Insight

This FDA Food action (record #F-3577-2017) was formally reported on October 11, 2017, with the manufacturer initiating the action on September 18, 2017. It is classified under Moderate severity (Class II), with a current status of Terminated. J R Simplot Co Corporate HQ is listed as the recalling firm, operating out of Boise, ID. Federal records indicate 4718 cases (6/5 lbs. bags per case) units are affected, a scale large enough to require multi-state distribution tracking.

The documented reason for this recall is: Simplot Traditional Tater Gem, foodservice case (6/5 lbs. bags), is recalled because customer reported that small pieces of rigid plastic were embedded in some tater gems. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: distributed in AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, KS, MA, MN, NE, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, and Guam. International countries including Canada, China, Taiwan.. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by FDA Food. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 9 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.