Robert Singleton, co-owner of Rancho Feeding Corporation, has pled guilty to charges of selling cows with eye cancer and is going to cooperate with the prosecution in the case against three other defendants. Rancho Feeding Corporation was shut down in February 2014 after a huge beef recall. Singleton admitted buying cows that were exhibiting disease, which makes them unfit for human consumption. Employees at the facility were allegedly told to cut off the heads of the sick cows and replace them with healthy cows to pass inspection. Employees are also accused of cutting federal inspector's "condemned" stamps on the carcasses so they could process the beef for shipping. Almost 9 million pounds of beef was recalled last winter, causing financial harm to many businesses. According to the … [Read more...]
Rancho Feeding Corporation Co-Owner, Employees Indicted
The co-owner of Ranch Feeding Corporation, Jesse J. Amaral Jr. and two workers have been indicted on 11 felony counts after the huge beef recall last year. The charges include distribution of adulterated and misbranded meat, conspiracy, and mail fraud. The other co-owner of the company, Robert Singleton, is expected to be charged soon. Amaral pleaded not guilty last week and was released on bail. Government officials believe that the owners told employees to get around inspection procedures for cows that exhibited signs of cancer of the eye. Employees then allegedly substituted cows that were not inspected for those that had already passed inspection. This apparently took place from mid to late 2012, until January 10, 2014. The diseased cows were allegedly slaughtered and their … [Read more...]
House Amendment Authorizes $1 Million for Food Safety
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment last week that would authorize $1 million for food safety investigations. The amendment was sponsored by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Jared Huffman (D-CA) was spurred by the huge Rancho Feeding Corporation recall of uninspected beef. That recall in the spring of 2014 covered more than 8 million pounds of beef: all of the meat it processed in 2013. The uninspected meat was sold in 35 states and in Guam. Thompson said in a statement, "with the Rancho recall, I witnessed firsthand the need for USDA's inspectors to have more resources so they can conduct better and more efficient investigations. From the beginning of the Rancho recall, public safety has been our number one concern. We can't let food get out that puts the health and … [Read more...]
Food & Water Watch on FSIS Inspector Shortages
There is a problem with inspector shortages at the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). This fact threatens the safety of all Americans, since inspectors are on the front line against foodborne pathogens in the food supply. A letter sent to Representative Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development from Executive Director Wenonah Hauter states, "after finally making some progress on long-standing problems with inspection staffing for U.S. meat, poultry, and egg products facilities in FY 2012, FSIS embarked on a policy not to hire permanent inspectors to fill vacancies, but instead to hire temporary inspectors to fill the positions. This was based on the agency's plan to drastically change the way inspection is conducted in … [Read more...]
Rancho Feeding Beef May Have Been Sold at Jack in the Box
According to a letter in the Press Democrat, the beef produced at Rancho Feeding Corporation that was recalled for adulteration may have been sold to Jack in the Box fast food restaurants and others and ended up in hamburgers. The meat-grinding company that supplied the food chains recalled the product. Officials believe that the beef has been consumed. The beef, which was originally recalled in February 2014, was considered adulterated because the government said the facility processed "diseased and unsound animals" without the benefit of federal inspection. Rancho Feeding Corporation has said the USDA report is unfounded, and has not commented on this recent report. The retail list for the recall lists almost 6,000 stores in 35 states. No restaurants are on that list, which … [Read more...]
USDA FSIS Explains Rancho Recall, Kind Of
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) has decided it won't be adding more names to the 210 page list of retailers involved in the Rancho Feeding Corp beef recall. And it's issued an explanation of the recall, kind of. In an announcement today, the agency said it has completed all recall checks and determined that the recall has been effective and that no more additions will be made to the retail distribution list. However, because of high interest in the recall, for the time being, the recall information will remain in the "active" section of the agency's recall website rather than being moved to the archived section. The recall included all meat processed at Rancho, the only slaughterhouse in the Bay Area, during 2013. FSIS said some … [Read more...]
Krave Jerky Recalled as Part of Rancho Feeding Beef Recall
Another product is being recalled because it was processed at the Rancho Feeding Corporation facility in Petaluma, California. That facility processed "diseased and unsound cows" without the benefit of federal inspection. More than 8 million pounds of beef have been recalled so far. No reports of illness have been confirmed, but we don't know what was wrong with the cows in the first place. The recalled product is Krave Jerky's garlic chili pepper beef jerky. It was sold in 3.25 ounce packages. The product was distributed nationwide and has the code "EST 18951" inside the USDA mark of inspection. If you purchased this product, do not eat it. Return it to the place of purchase for a refund, or discard it. … [Read more...]
Rancho Feeding Corporation Beef Sold in 35 States and Guam
The USDA released another retail distribution list for the Rancho Feeding Corporation beef that was recalled because it was considered adulterated. Now 35 states and Guam are on the list, which is 220 pages long. The list of recalled products is at the USDA web site. The stores and chains that may have carried the beef with nationwide, state-wide, or area-wide distribution include 7-Eleven, Albertson's, Big Saver Foods, BP, Buy for Less, Chevron, Circle K, Citgo, Conoco, Country Mart, Country Market, Cub Foods, El Rancho, Exxon, Family Dollar, Fiesta Mart, Festival Foods, Food 4 Less, Food Giant, Food Rite, Food Source, Fred Meyer, Fresh Market, HEB, IGA, K-Mart, Kwik Trip, Lowe's, Market Place, Mobil, Pavilions, Piggly Wiggly, Price Chopper, Publix, Ralphs, Rite Aide, Safeway, … [Read more...]
New Rancho Feeding Corporation Recall Retail List
The USDA has just released another retail list of the stores that may have sold recalled Rancho Feeding Corporation beef products. The products were recalled because they may have been produced from diseased and unsound animals, and were made without the benefit of federal inspection. The recall is for more than 8 million pounds of beef products. Secondary recalls have included Nestle Hot Pockets, frozen hamburgers, and beef jerky. The products were sold in thousands of stores across the country. Some of the stores with nationwide, state-wide, and area-wide include 7-Eleven, Albertson's, Circle K, Country Mart, El Super, Family Dollar, Food 4 Less, Food City, Fred Meyer, Fry's Marketplace, HEB, K-Mart, Kroger, Lowe's, Price Chopper, Quick Mart, Ralphs, Safeway, Vons, Walgreens, Winco, … [Read more...]
More Rancho Beef Products Recalled for Adulteration
More products have joined the recall of Rancho Feeding Corporation products. That facility processed "diseased and unsound animals" without the benefit of federal inspection, according to the USDA. These products may have been made from meat processed at the Rancho Feeding Corporation facility. The recalled products are Farmer John Jumbo Meat Wieners in 16 ounce packages, and Farmer John Jumbo Beef Franks in 16 ounce packages. They were sold at the Kroger stores Ralphs, Food4Less, and FoodsCo. At Winco, only the Farmer John Beef Franks sold there are recalled; they have a UPC number of 50500-00051 and best by date of 4/8/14 only. Winco has also announced that Tillamook Country Smoker jerky products have been recalled. They are "Beef Formed Jerky" packaged 12 per case, in 11 ounce … [Read more...]
