Zweigle’s of New York is recalling about 6,082 pounds of ready-to-eat olive loaf pork products because it contains sodium nitrite levels in excess of regulatory limits. Sodium nitrite is a preservative that prevents bacterial growth, and it also gives cured meats their characteristic pink color.
Too much of this restricted compound can cause rapid pulse and can be toxic. Eating too much sodium nitrite can also cause irritation to the digestive system, including abdominal pain. No confirmed reports of adverse reactions have been received to date in connection with this recall.
The problem was discovered on September 20, 2018 by FSIS inspectors during label verification activities. They found that the establishment’s formulation for the use of sodium nitrite exceeded the regulatory limit.
The olive loaf pork items were produced from June 29, 2018 through August 27, 2018. It is 9 pound boxes containing two half-loaves of “Olive Loaf Oven Baked” with “Use by” dates of 8/22/18, 9/12/18, 9/19/18, 10/4/18, and 10/17/18. The case code on the package is 070534075225.. The products have the establishment number “EST. 5333” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to retail locations in western New York as intact loaves for slicing.
If you purchased this item, do not eat it. Discard it in a sealed container or take it back to the store where you purchased it for a full refund.
FSIS will be conducting retail effectiveness checks to make sure that this product has been removed from store shelves. They also want to make sure that the company is taking action so this product is no longer available for purchase.
