The U.S, Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service ordered a North Carolina meat supplier to recall nearly 168,000 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat after federal inspectors found their products did not have the required inspection and were stamped with bogus USDA stamps.
Star Meat Delivery Inc. is recalling approximately 167,639 pounds of meat, carrying a false establishment number: “EST. 1363,” which does not correspond to a facility operating under a federal grant of inspection.
The recalled meat products, made on various dates before September 22, were classified as Class I, the highest risk category. This signifies that consumption could potentially cause serious health consequences or death.
FSIS considered any product bearing the fake USDA stamps as misbranded and unsafe to eat.
Meat may already be sitting in home freezers
The recalled products were vacuum-packed under the A&D Foods label and shipped in bulk to a distributor in Georgia, and distributed to retailers and restaurants across the United States.
But consumers may find it difficult to identify the meat as some retailers apply their own stickers showing prices and safe-handling instructions, meaning individual packages may not carry the original A&D Foods labeling.
The recall covers a range of products, including goat cuts, beef ribs, oxtail, sliced ribeye, ground pork, chorizo, pork chops and other meat products.
FSIS discovered the problem during surveillance activities. The agency said no confirmed illnesses or injuries had been linked to the products at the time of its announcement.
It does not mean, however, that the meat is safe. Food products without federal inspection may contain harmful bacteria, undeclared allergens or other contaminants that pose risks to consumers.
“Food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants that put consumer health and safety at risk,” FSIS, in a statement said.
What shoppers should do
FSIS is urging consumers who purchased the recalled products not to eat them. Instead, they should throw the meat away or return it to the place of purchase; check refrigerators and freezers for products bearing the false establishment number “EST. 1363,” and refrain from serving any recalled meat in restaurants or other food-service operations.
The agency has already instructed retailers and restaurants not to sell or serve the products.
FSIS said it may update the list of recalled items and labels as more information becomes available. The full recall notice and product labels are available through the FSIS website.
Consumers with questions can contact Star Meat Delivery Inc. at 252-239-0610 or [email protected] about the recall, while food safety questions can be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854.
An email to company’s designated media contact did not yield either a decline to comment or no response by publication time.
