By The Associated Press

ATLANTA - Celebrity chef Paula Deen got an unexpected serving of ham - across her face.

The Food Network star was helping unload more than 11,000 kilograms of donated meat for an Atlanta food bank on Monday when someone threw one of the hams like a football and accidentally smacked her.

Deen tells WGCL-TV: "I thought it busted my lip, but it didn't."

Though smiles and laughter, Deen added: "I'm OK. It just knocked me for a little bit."

She says she was unloading hams when she tossed one to a man, who then said "Back at 'ya." Thinking he meant it only as a sentiment, she turned around to get another ham when the errant swine came at her.

"He really meant, 'Back at 'ya."'

Later, she tweeted: "I haven't met the ham that could stop me yet!"

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On the Net: See incident: http://bit.ly/76571j