The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a warning on Tuesday, September 22nd, that Star Meat Delivery is recalling approximately 167,639 pounds (about 76 tons) of uninspected raw beef, pork, and goat meat products.
This recall has been classified as a Class I recall by the regulatory agency. This signifies the highest level of severity, indicating that the recalled products could result in serious adverse health consequences or even death.
According to the announcement by FSIS, the recall list includes various cuts of goat meat, beef ribeye slices, thinly sliced beef chuck, beef tail cuts, pork ground meat, bone-in pork chops, pork feet cuts, pork spare rib chunks, among others.
FSIS also noted that the products in question may bear falsified USDA inspection marks, and any products bearing the code “EST. 1363″ should not be consumed.
The specific names of the recalled products are as follows:
– 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 10.00LBS
– BEEF SHORT RIBS SLD 3/8” REGULAR 10.00 LBS
– SHANKS BONE IN CUT 1.5 10.00 LBS
– PORK GROUND 10.00LBS
– PORK CHORIZO 10.00 LBS
– PORK CHOP B/I 10.00 LBS
– PORK FEET CUT 8 PCS 10.00 LBS
– PORK FEET CUT 6 PCS 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
The FSIS stated that these products were produced on various dates before the recall announcement date and distributed under the A&D Foods brand to restaurants and retail outlets nationwide. They were vacuum-sealed, packaged in boxes, and transported and stored accordingly.
It is possible that retail consumer packaging may not display pertinent information or may have price and safety handling labels applied by the retail outlets themselves.
Issues Identified and Response Suggestions
According to FSIS, uninspected food products may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants, posing risks to consumer health. This issue was discovered during routine FSIS inspection checks.
FSIS also advised that some of the recalled products may still be in the freezers or refrigerators of consumers, retailers, or restaurants. Those who have purchased these products should not consume them and should return them to the place of purchase or dispose of them directly. Retailers should refrain from selling or supplying the affected products.
FSIS mentioned that as more information becomes available, the recall list may expand. As of now, there have been no reports of injuries or illnesses related to this recall.
Throughout this year, several food recall alerts have been issued across the United States due to potential hazards, foodborne illnesses, contamination, uninspected products, or undeclared allergens.
Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, commented that this recall demonstrates the food safety system is functioning as designed.
He emphasized that food can never be completely risk-free, but what is crucial is the ability to promptly identify issues, assess the severity, and remove affected products from shelves or consumers’ hands to minimize the impact.