Almost 170,000 pounds of raw meat recalled amid fraudulent labelling claims

The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has recalled around 170,000 pounds of raw meat produced ‘without the benefit of federal inspection’.

It’s understood that the raw pork, beef, and goat products all bore labels with a false USDA inspection claim.

On Tuesday (22 September), the FSIS posted a Class I recall notice on behalf of Star Meat Delivery Inc., located in Lucama, N.C.

It stated that approximately 167,639 pounds of meat, bearing the false establishment number ‘EST. 1363’, should be considered misbranded and unsafe to eat.

“The products subject to recall bear false marks of inspection with establishment number ‘EST. 1363’, which does not have a federal grant of inspection. These items were shipped to A&D Foods, a distributor in Georgia, for further distribution to retail and restaurant locations nationwide,” the notice read.

Meat, including raw pork, has been recalled in the United States (Getty Stock Image)

Investigators uncovered the fraduelent labelling issue during FSIS surveillance activities.

“Food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants that put consumer health and safety at risk,” the officials wrote.

“FSIS is concerned that some product may be in the refrigerators or freezers of consumers, restaurants, or retailers.”

No confirmed reports of illness or injury due to consumption of these products has been reported at the time of writing.

However, anyone concerned about an illness or injury should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased the mislabelled meat products are urged not to consume them.

Meanwhile, retailers and restaurants are being told not to sell or serve these products and to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Goat meat is also included in the recall (Getty Stock Image)

Items impacted by the Class I recall

The FSI notice stated that the raw pork, beef, and goat items included in the recall were all produced on various dates prior to 22 September.

Edible products were vacuum-sealed and packed into cardboard boxes for shipment, officials stated, adding that ‘individual consumer packages may not bear this labeling, as retail stores may have applied their own stickers with pricing and safe handling instructions’.

The following products, distributed in bulk under the A&D Foods label, are subject to recall:

• Goat Cut 1-1/2 10.00 LBS
• Goat Burn Skin On Cut 1-1/2 10.00 LBS
• Slice Ribeye 4oz 10.00 LBS
• Beef Chuck Thin Sliced KBQ 4 MM 20.00 LBS
• Beef Oxtail Cut 10.00 LBS
• Beef Short Ribs SLD 3/8" Regular 10.00 LBS
• Shanks Bone in Cut 1.5 10.00 LBS
• Pork Ground 10.00 LBS
• Pork Chorizo 10.00 LBS
• Pork Chop B/I 10.00 LBS
• Pork Feet Cut 8PCS and 6PCS 10.00 LBS
• Pork Rib Pieces Prem 1” 10.00 LBS
• Pork Boston Diced 10.00 LBS
• Pork Boston Slice 1 Inch 20.00 LBS
• Menudo Mix 30.00 LBS
• Pork Boston Thin Sliced 3.5MM 20.00 LBS
• Pork Hock Sliced 10.00 LBS
• Beef Ribs 4Bone 2” C. Cut P/Caldo
• Beef Short Rib Thin Sliced
• Pork Boston Butt Sliced 4MM
• Beef Short Ribs SLD 3/8" Premium C. Cut
• Beef Feet Cut

Consumers with questions about tthe recall are advised to call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email here.

For consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

FOODbible has contacted Star Meat Delivery Inc. for further comment.