Mason Thompson
Over 83 tons of meat are being recalled throughout the United States due to inadequate inspection by federal agencies. These products were distributed with counterfeit inspection stickers, according to the Department of Agriculture.
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Significant Meat Recall Issued by Department of Agriculture
Star Meat Delivery Inc., located in Lucama, North Carolina, is recalling over 167,000 pounds (75,750 kilograms) of raw pork, beef, and goat meat nationwide. The USDA indicated that this number may increase as their investigation continues.
Food produced without proper inspection may include undeclared allergens, dangerous bacteria, or other harmful contaminants, the agency noted on Tuesday during the recall announcement. As of now, there have been no confirmed cases of illness or injury linked to the recalled meats, according to USDA reports.
The affected meat was produced on various dates prior to September 22 and features USDA inspection stickers that incorrectly display an establishment number—EST. 1363—that the agency confirmed does not have a federal inspection grant. some packages may not display this label, as retail stores could have applied their own stickers containing pricing and safe handling instructions, the agency cautioned.
These products were distributed to Georgia distributor A&D Foods, which sent them to retail and restaurant locations across the nation.
The USDA has classified these items as misbranded and unsafe for consumption, advising consumers to discard them or return them to the place of purchase.
The issue came to light during routine checks by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. It remains unclear if any arrests or criminal charges have been made.
In a statement released on its Facebook page, Star Meat Delivery refuted claims that the inspection stamps on its products were falsified. The company asserted that the establishment number in question was “legitimately reserved” as part of the USDA’s application process while they await approval to process and package meat for the Georgia distributor.
Star Meat emphasized that the approval process is still ongoing, although the meat involved was sourced from a USDA-inspected supplier.
“No other products sold by Star Meat Delivery were mislabeled, and no other products sold by Star Meat Delivery are part of the recall that has been issued,” the company stated. “We are fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities to finalize the application and are adhering to the recall procedures established.”
The USDA has not immediately responded to Star Meat’s statement.
Recalls prompted by counterfeit inspection stamps are relatively uncommon, according to Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
“This is an instance of someone cutting corners,” he said. “Systems exist to detect these issues, and it appears that the system functioned as intended. Inspections cannot be bypassed.”
Last year, approximately 32,000 pounds (14,500 kilograms) of meat, including chorizo, pork chops, and ribs, produced by Sabrositos Hondurenos in New Jersey, were recalled after the USDA identified them as having fraudulent inspection stickers.
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Associated Press writer Philip Marcelo contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
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