Nearly 29,628 pounds of raw beef imported from Argentina has been recalled over a missed inspection step, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on August 7, 2026. Corte Argentino USA LLC, a Florida-based importer, distributed the products to retailers in Florida and Texas before the oversight was discovered during routine FSIS inspection activities.
The recalled beef was produced between May 15 and May 20, 2026, and carries freeze-by dates between September 15 and September 20, 2026. The specific products include boneless cuts such as Top Sirloin Butt, Eye Round, Topside Cap Off, Flat, and Knuckle, all bearing Argentinian establishment number “EST. N° OF. 2025” and shipping mark “26644-AA.”
The USDA classified the recall as Class I, its highest risk level. According to the agency, a Class I recall indicates a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. The designation reflects the regulatory breach rather than a confirmed contamination—no illness or injury has been reported in connection with the recalled products.
Import reinspection is a mandatory safety checkpoint for all foreign meat entering the United States. After incoming shipments meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements, the FSIS must conduct a secondary examination that checks documentation, labeling, packaging, the product’s general condition, and sometimes samples for bacterial or chemical contaminants, according to Fox Business reporting on the recall. The Corte Argentino shipment bypassed this step entirely, entering U.S. commerce without that required verification.
The FSIS said it is concerned that some affected products may remain in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. The agency advises consumers who purchased these products not to consume them and to either discard them or return them to the point of purchase. Consumers with food safety questions can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or submit a report through the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.
The discovery occurred during routine inspection, highlighting how procedural oversights in the import chain can result in uninspected product reaching distribution networks. The recall underscores the role of reinspection as a critical safeguard in the food supply, particularly for imported beef recalls that have surfaced throughout 2026. Food recalls have surged in 2026 as the FDA has issued Class I warnings for multiple product categories, reflecting heightened scrutiny of food safety compliance across sectors.
Sources
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service — official recall announcement, recall classification, product details, distribution states, freeze-by dates, and no confirmed illness reports
- USA Today — recall details, product specifics, production dates, freeze-by dates, and Class I classification definition
- Fox Business — import reinspection process, what reinspection checks (documentation, labeling, packaging, condition, contaminant samples), and distribution information
