Karmactive Staff
Hook
The US Department of Agriculture has issued a recall covering approximately 167,639 pounds of raw beef, pork and goat products from Star Meat Delivery. The products were distributed nationwide by A&D Foods to retailers and restaurants. FSIS said the products were produced without federal inspection while carrying a USDA inspection mark they were not entitled to display. The affected products may still be sitting in household refrigerators and restaurant storage.
Core Facts
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of raw beef, pork and goat products from Star Meat Delivery. FSIS classified the recall as Class I — its most serious designation. Distributor A&D Foods sent the products to retailers and restaurants across the country. The packaging carries a false establishment number — EST. 1363 — indicating inspection that never took place. FSIS states the products were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, meaning federal inspection did not occur before the products were distributed. No confirmed illnesses had been reported at the time of the announcement.
Consequence
Check any raw beef, pork or goat products in your home or business for the establishment number EST. 1363. If that number appears on the packaging, do not eat the product. FSIS advises throwing it away or returning it to the place of purchase. The problem with this recall is different from a typical contamination recall — the meat bypassed the federal inspection process entirely. Consumers cannot determine at home whether uninspected product meets federal safety requirements.
Why the Inspection Status Matters
When FSIS inspects meat before sale, federal inspectors assess the facility, the animals and the finished product for contamination, disease and correct labeling. Products that do not receive federal inspection do not receive the federal inspection controls that would otherwise apply.
The false USDA mark on these products meant consumers and retailers had no visible indication that the standard review had not taken place. A&D Foods distributed the products nationally, reaching both retailers and food-service operators, which is why FSIS warns the meat may still be in commercial cold storage as well as household freezers.
What is EST. 1363, and why does it matter?
EST. 1363 is the establishment number on the recalled packaging. Establishment numbers on USDA-inspected products identify the federally inspected facility where the product was made. The products bear this establishment number despite FSIS saying they were produced without federal inspection — making it a false establishment mark. Any product carrying it from this recall should be treated as unsafe.
Closure
FSIS may update the product list and distribution scope as its investigation continues. The latest recall details, including specific product descriptions and packaging information, are available through the FSIS recall database. If additional distribution locations are confirmed, this article will be updated.
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