Recallr: Gourmet Boutique of New York, recalls 286,320 pounds of fresh and frozen meat and poultry products.

Gourmet Boutique, L.L.C., a New York firm, is recalling more than quarter million ( approximately 286,320) pounds of fresh and frozen meat and poultry products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

Recallr: Gourmet Boutique, L.L.C., of New York, recalls 286,320 pounds of fresh and frozen meat and poultry products.

Tags: food recall, USDA recall, Gourmet Boutique Recall

Secretary of Agriculture's Statement Regarding Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company.

Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer Regarding Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company Two Year Product Recall
February 17, 2008


"Today, USDA is announcing additional actions as a result of the ongoing investigation at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has evidence that Hallmark/Westland did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian in situations in which cattle became non-ambulatory after passing ante-mortem inspection, which is not compliant with FSIS regulations. Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection FSIS has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall.

The United States enjoys one of the safest food supplies in the world. To help ensure the safety of the food supply, we implement a series of safeguards to protect against foodborne disease. These safeguards include in-plant procedures to reduce dangerous foodborne pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. It also includes the removal of specified risk materials-those tissues demonstrated to contain the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent in infected cattle-from the human food chain, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 1997 ruminant to ruminant feed ban. The prohibition of non-ambulatory cattle from the food supply is an additional safeguard against bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Upon notification of possible violations of USDA regulations, we immediately began an investigation and placed products from this plant destined for the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations on hold. Since then, we also suspended all Federal food and nutrition program contracts with Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. To date, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company remains suspended by the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The products destined for the Federal food assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program, will now be removed from schools and other holding facilities and destroyed.

I am dismayed at the in-humane handling of cattle that has resulted in the violation of food safety regulations at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. It is extremely unlikely that these animals were at risk for BSE because of the multiple safeguards; however, this action is necessary because plant procedures violated USDA regulations.

In addition, our Office of the Inspector General and the Food Safety and Inspection Service continue the investigation. We will respond immediately if further findings warrant. Details about this recall and USDA actions are available at www.usda.gov/actions . "

tag: Beef Recall, USDA recall, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company, Hallmark/Westland Meat Recall, Secretary of Agriculture, FSIS regulations, FSIS, foodborne disease,

Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co., Recalls 143 million pounds of Beef.

The USDA, (U.S. Department of Agriculture) on Sunday ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of beef from Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co., a Chino, Calif.,, the subject of an animal-abuse investigation, that provided meat to school lunch programs. (This is the only video I could find on YouTube.)


WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2008 – Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co., a Chino, Calif., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 143,383,823 pounds of raw and frozen beef products that FSIS has determined to be unfit for human food because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection. Through evidence obtained by FSIS, the establishment did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian in situations in which cattle became non-ambulatory after passing ante-mortem inspection, which is not compliant with FSIS regulations. Such circumstances require that an FSIS public health veterinarian reassess the non-ambulatory cattle which are either condemned and prohibited from the food supply, or tagged as suspect. Suspect cattle receive a more thorough inspection after slaughter than is customary. This noncompliant activity occurred occasionally over the past two years and therefore all beef product produced during the period of time for which evidence indicates such activity occurred has been determined by FSIS to be unfit for human consumption, and is, therefore, adulterated. This recall is designated as Class II due to the remote probability that the beef being recalled would cause adverse health effects if consumed. FSIS made this determination because the animals passed ante-mortem inspection but should have been identified as suspect requiring additional inspection after slaughter to determine if there is evidence of disease, injury, or other signs of abnormalities that may have occurred after ante-mortem inspection. In July 2007, FSIS issued a final rule “Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle.” This rule requires that a case by case disposition must be made by an FSIS Public Health Veterinarian for every animal that becomes non-ambulatory disabled (“downer”) after passing ante-mortem inspection. The prohibition of downer cattle from entering the food supply is only one measure in an interlocking system of controls the federal government has in place to protect the food supply. The government has multiple safeguards regarding BSE in place and the prevalence of the disease in the United States is extremely low. Other BSE security measures include the feed ban that prohibits feeding ruminant protein to other ruminants and an ongoing BSE surveillance program that began before the confirmation of the first BSE positive cow in the U.S. in 2003. As another measure to reduce the risk of potential exposure to consumers, FSIS requires the removal of specified risk materials (SRM) so they do not enter the food supply. Several FSIS line inspectors are stationed at designated points along the production line where they are able to directly observe SRM removal activities.
The products subject to this recall were sent to wholesale distributors nationwide in bulk packages and are not available for direct purchase by consumers. All products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 336” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates from Feb. 1, 2006 to Feb. 2, 2008. Companies are urged to check their inventories and hold the products until the recalling firm makes arrangements for final disposition of the products.
USDA Press Release, PDF
tag: USDA recall, food recall, Beef Recall, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing recall, animal-abuse, FSIS, adulterated beef, Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle

Perdue Farms, Inc., Recalls Chicken Products due to Undeclared Allergen

Recall Release	CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-003-2008	HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Peggy Riek

WASHINGTON, Jan 26, 2008 - Perdue Farms, Inc., an Accomac, Va., establishment, is recalling approximately 24,710 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast products because they may contain an undeclared allergen. The products contain an Italian seasoning which includes milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the label.

The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• 28.8-ounce packages of “PERDUE Perfect Portions, 6 Individually Wrapped Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.” Each package bears the establishment number “EST. P-7903” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the UPC code “72745-06819.” Each package also bears a “Sell-by or Freeze-By” date of “FEB 02,” “FEB 03,” “FEB 04,” “FEB 05” or “FEB 06.”

The chicken products were produced on Jan.19, 2008, and were distributed to retail establishments in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The problem was discovered by the company. FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an allergic reaction should contact a physician.

Media with questions about the recall should contact company Vice President of Corporate Communication Julie DeYoung at (410) 543-3166. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the Perdue Consumer Relations hotline at (800) 473-7383.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

tag: USDA recall, Perdue Farms Recall, food recall, chicken recall, chicken breast recall, Alergen, PERDUE Perfect Portions,

Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., Recalls Various Cuts of Steaks And Ground Beef Products Due To Contamination with E. coli O157:H7

Recall Release	CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-001-2008	HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2008 - Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., a Detroit, Mich., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 13,150 pounds of various cuts of steaks and ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The steak and ground beef products subject to recall were produced on Dec. 20, 21, 24 or 26, 2007, and were distributed to restaurants in the metropolitan Detroit area. These products were not available for purchase by consumers in retail establishments.
FSIS has received no reports of illness related to these products at this time. Anyone who consumed these types of products at Detroit area restaurants and is experiencing an illness should contact a physician immediately.

The following products are subject to recall:

• Boxes of "Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., BEEF FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, BALL TIP STEAKS."
• Boxes of "Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., BEEF FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, BEEF NY STRIPS."
• Boxes of "Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., BEEF FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, BEEF T-BONE STEAK."
• Boxes of "Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., BEEF FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, BEEF PORTERHOUSE STEAK."
• Boxes of "Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., BEEF FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, BEEF TOP SIRLOIN STEAKS."
• Boxes of "Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., BEEF FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, BULK GROUND BEEF."
• Boxes of "Mark's Quality Meats, Inc., BEEF FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, GROUND BEEF PATTIES."

Each shipping label bears the establishment number "Est. 8951" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The problem was discovered after the recalling firm submitted a product sample that tested positive at a third party laboratory.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact the company General Manager Jack Fudge at (313) 554-2500.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to food borne illness.
tag: USDA recall, Beef Recall, Food Recall, health risk, Mark's Quality Meats recall, E. coli O157:H7, E.COLI, ground beef recall, Steak recall