Star Meat Delivery Inc. is recalling approximately 167,639 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat products in a meat recall after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the items were produced without federal inspection, the agency announced Sept. 22.
The FSIS notice says the products were vacuum-packed, shipped in bulk under the A&D Foods label and bore false USDA inspection marks with establishment number “EST. 1363,” which does not have a federal grant of inspection.
The items were produced on various dates before Sept. 22 and were shipped to a distributor in Georgia for further distribution to retail and restaurant locations nationwide, the FSIS statement says. The recall came after the problem was discovered during FSIS surveillance activities.
FSIS cautioned consumers that product bearing the false establishment number should be considered misbranded and unsafe to eat because food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens or harmful bacteria. The agency said there have been no confirmed reports of illness related to these items.
Retailers and restaurants are urged not to sell or serve the affected products; consumers who purchased them are told to discard or return them to the place of purchase. FSIS posted the list of affected bulk carton descriptions and a PDF of the labels it has identified on its recall page.
Food-safety specialists say recalls tied to improper or false inspection marks raise concerns because they can bypass the checks that screen for contaminants. In this case FSIS said the products were distributed under A&D Foods and carried a mark from an establishment that lacks inspection authority.
Industry observers note the economic and supply disruptions that large meat recalls can cause to distributors and restaurants that received bulk shipments; FSIS said it will post retail distribution lists when available and that the agency conducts recall effectiveness checks to ensure the products are removed from commerce.
This meat recall follows other recent food-safety notices this month from retail and packaged-food companies, underscoring why suppliers and buyers watch FSIS listings closely before placing or accepting bulk orders.
Sources
- USDA FSIS — recall notice: Star Meat Delivery Inc. recalls approximately 167,639 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat products produced without the benefit of federal inspection, false “EST. 1363” mark, shipped to A&D Foods in Georgia.
- WPTZ — local reporting confirming the recall and the 167,639-pound figure and distribution to retail and restaurant locations nationwide.
- USA Today — syndicated recall summary and context on labeling and consumer guidance.
