Over 7,000 pounds of raw beef is being recalled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for being produced and packaged without due inspection by the federal government. Several types of beef products were affected by the Texas company's recall.
No Due Inspection
Approximately 7,146 pounds of raw beef products were recalled by Fort Worth, Texas company Texas Meat Packers, also known as PFP Enterprises, LLC. Evidently, the recall was announced after a March 30 record review by inspection personnel revealed that the March 24 operation of the establishment went about without inspection.
There have been no confirmed adverse reactions resulting from the consumption of these products, but consumers who have purchased the affected products are urged not to consume them, but instead to return them to the place of purchase or throw away. Anyone who experiences adverse reactions related to the consumption of the products should immediately contact a health care provider.
Raw Beef Product Recall
Several types of the company's beef products are affected by the recall including vacuum-packed 5-pound packages of Beef Skirt Diced For Tacos and Pre-seasoned Beef For Fajitas, both with a packaging date of March 24, 2018 and a use-by date of March 23, 2019 for the latter.
Varying weights of USDA Choice Angus Beef with item code 567248261 and USDA Choice Angus with item code 567248253 are also included in the recall. The products affected by the recall have the establishment number EST. 34715 in the USDA mark of inspection and were shipped to various locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Missouri. The exact labels of the affected products are provided by the FSIS.
This recall is classified as Class I, which means that there is a reasonable probability that the product may cause serious health consequences or even death.
Inspection Requirements For Meat Products
The Federal Meat Inspection Act requires that all meat products intended to be commercially sold must pass an inspection to make sure that it is safe, properly labeled, and wholesome. In this regard, the FSIS is responsible for providing such inspections.
There are, however, certain exemptions to the inspection requirements, such as when an individual raises and slaughters livestock for personal consumption or for the consumption of non-paying guests. Further, an exemption may be made for a facility that slaughters and prepares livestock for the use of another person, and for his own consumption only. These meat products may not be sold commercially. In such cases, such facilities are still inspected periodically to ensure that they produce wholesome meat products.
