The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reports that Gallo Meats LLC, based in Colville, Washington, has just recalled 82 pounds of meat products. According to this alert, the manufacturer affixed a mark of inspection to the lamb, sausage, and beef products even though a federal inspection was not in fact performed.
Consumers in Washington state, where the meat products were distributed between April 20 and July 27, 2016, should be aware that the products affected by the recall have the establishment number “EST. 09334” stamped inside the USDA mark of inspection. These packages should either be disposed of or returned to their place of purchase.
This Class I Recall (“High Risk”) was issued on September 17th. Three days previously, on September 14th, FSIS inspectors realized that the named products were labelled with a USDA mark of inspection not actually produced during the FSIS inspection. The USDA defines a Class I recall as “a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”
The following packages are those that have been recalled. Complete labels can be viewed here:
- “HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE,” in 12-16 oz. cryovac packages, with a pack date of 04-20-16.
- “GROUND LAMB,” in 12-16 oz. cryovac packages, with a pack date of 06-07-16.
- “BEEF FLANK STEAK,” IN 12-16 oz. cryovac packages, with a pack date of 07-22-16 or 07=27-16.
Questions about the recall can be addressed to Kim Gallo, Vice President, Gallo Meats LLC at (509) 684-3448. Alternatively, food safety questions can also be submitted to the FSIS’s virtual representative “Ask Karen” at AskKaren.gov or, via smartphone, at m.askkaren.gov.
