Customers who recently purchased ready-to-eat chicken products from PakānSave Rangiora are being urged to check their purchases after a food safety concern triggered a recall of two popular items.
New Zealand Food Safety has announced the recall of the storeās Death by Chicken Burger and Chicken Katsu Garden Salad after concerns that the chicken used in the products may have been undercooked. Both items were prepared in-store at PakānSave Rangiora, located at 2 Southbrook Rd, and were sold with a best-before date of June 11, 2026 after being packed on June 8, 2026.
Authorities say consumers should not eat the affected products because undercooked poultry can carry harmful bacteria that may cause foodborne illness. While no illnesses linked to the recalled products have been reported so far, officials have taken precautionary action to protect consumers.
Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Director-General of New Zealand Food Safety, said customers who still have the products should return them to PakānSave Rangiora for a refund. If returning them is not practical, the products should be discarded.
Potential health risks linked to undercooked chicken
The concern surrounding the recall centres on Campylobacter, a bacteria commonly associated with raw or undercooked poultry. Campylobacteriosis is one of the most frequently reported foodborne illnesses and can lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms.
According to New Zealand Food Safety, people infected with Campylobacter may experience diarrhoea, fever, headache, muscle aches, abdominal pain and vomiting. Symptoms typically develop within two to five days after consuming contaminated food, although in some cases they can take up to ten days to appear.
Anyone who has eaten either recalled product and becomes unwell should seek medical advice. Consumers can also contact Healthline on 0800 611 116 if they have concerns about possible exposure.
The recall highlights the importance of food safety controls for ready-to-eat meals. Unlike raw meat products that are cooked at home, prepared burgers and salads are often consumed immediately, leaving consumers reliant on retailers to ensure ingredients have been safely prepared before sale.
Food safety alerts have become an increasingly important tool for protecting consumers from potential health risks. Similar concerns have emerged in other recent cases, including an FDA recall involving seasoning products that prompted warnings about everyday food items already stored in household kitchens.
Consumers looking for official information on recalls and food safety notices can visit the New Zealand Food Safety recall portal, which provides updates on affected products and public health guidance.
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New Zealand Food Safety said it will continue working with PakānSave Rangiora to determine how the issue occurred and what measures can be implemented to prevent a similar incident in the future.
For shoppers, the message remains straightforward: check the product name and packaging details carefully. Anyone with a Death by Chicken Burger or Chicken Katsu Garden Salad from the affected batch should avoid consuming the product and either return it for a refund or dispose of it safely.
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