Over 100 US retailers believed to have recalled meatballs
Over 60,000 pounds (lb) of beef products, including meatballs, have been recalled by the Washington-based meat producer in two recalls stretching back to 9 March 2017.
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said on 28 March that 112 retailers across 13 US states might be have received the ground beef products that contain metal fragments.
A 14-page document published by FSIS lists every retail outfit believed to have received the recalled meat products. States implicated in the recall are Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
‘High’ health risk
In addition to retail sites, some of the products have been shipped to US Department of Defence facilities nationwide.
In total, Kings Command Foods is recalling roughly 63,252lb – or 28 tonnes (t) – of beef products that may contain metal fragments.
The scope of the recall includes 37,114lb of ready-to-eat beef products FSIS claimed were associated with “extraneous material contamination”. This was issued on Friday 17 March.
The first recall was issued on 9 March 2017, after King’s Command Foods recalled 26,138lb of ground beef products.
While there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products, FSIS has classified the health risk as “high”.
Kings Command Foods could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
The recalled products
- 28lb bulk packages of ‘Fully Cooked Meatballs’. Case code: 72355. Packaging dates of 5-16-16, 5-24-16, 8-11-16 and 10-05-16.
- 10lb bulk packages of ‘Fully Cooked Certified Angus Beef Brand Meatballs’. Case code: 72090.
- 10lb bulk packages of ‘Fully Cooked Certified Angus Beef Brand Meatballs’. Case code:72092.
- 28lb bulk packages of ‘Fully Cooked Meatballs’ bearing case code 72354.
- 28lb bulk packages of ‘Fully Cooked Meatballs’. Case code: 72355.
- 15lb packages containing 96 pieces of 2.5-ounce ‘Fully Cooked Southern Fried Beef Steak Fritter for Chicken Fried Steak’. Case code: 72559.
- 15lb packages containing 240 pieces of ‘Fully Cooked County Fried Breaded Beef Fingers’. Case code: 72208.
- 15lb packages containing 60 pieces of ‘Fully Cooked Southern Fried Beef Steak Fritter’. Case code: 72568.
- 15lb packages containing 80 pieces of ‘Fully Cooked Chicken Fried Beef Fritters’. Case code: 72564.
- 10lb case packages containing 40 pieces of ‘Fully Cooked Southern Fried Beef Steak Fritter OR Chicken Fried Steak’. Case code: 72206.
- 10lb case packages containing 64 pieces of 2.5-ounce ‘Fully Cooked Southern Style Breaded Beef Steakettes’. Case code: 74917.
- 10lb case packages containing 160 pieces of 1.0-ounce ‘B-E-K-O Fully cooked country fried beef fingers’. Case code: 72374.