The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a Class I recall of roughly 167,639 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat products that were produced without federal inspection and falsely displayed a USDA inspection mark. The recall, the agency’s most serious category, was triggered because the products could cause serious health consequences or death.
Who is involved
The meat originated from Star Meat Delivery Inc., based in Lucama, North Carolina. After production, the products were shipped to A&D Foods, a distributor in Georgia, for further distribution to retail and restaurant locations across the United States.
What was mislabeled
Each package bore a counterfeit USDA establishment number – “EST. 1363.” FSIS confirmed that this number does not correspond to any federally inspected establishment. The agency warned that any product bearing the false number should be considered misbranded and unsafe to eat.
Products affected
The recall includes a wide range of raw meat items, such as goat cuts, sliced ribeye, thin‑sliced beef chuck, beef short ribs, beef feet, ground pork, pork chorizo, pork chops, pork feet, pork hocks, menudo mix, and sliced or diced pork Boston butt. All items were vacuum‑sealed and packed in cardboard boxes before shipment.
Consumer guidance
FSIS advises consumers to compare any meat they may have purchased with the agency’s product‑label packet, which is available on the FSIS website. Because many retail stores add their own pricing and handling stickers, the original counterfeit label may not be visible on the final consumer package.
If you suspect you have the recalled product, discard it immediately or return it to the place of purchase. Anyone who experiences illness after consuming the meat should contact a health‑care provider.
Why the recall matters
Federal inspection is intended to ensure that meat products are produced under strict food‑safety conditions before they receive an official USDA inspection mark. Products made without that oversight can contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants that pose a risk to public health.
FSIS discovered the issue during routine surveillance activities and is conducting recall‑effectiveness checks to confirm that companies have notified customers and removed the affected meat from commerce. A retail distribution list may be posted on the FSIS recalls page when it becomes available.
Contact information
Consumers with general food‑safety questions can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888‑674‑6854 or email [email protected]. Additional concerns can be reported through the agency’s Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System. For specific inquiries about the recall, Star Meat Delivery Inc. can be reached at 252‑239‑0610.
The recall remains active, and FSIS will update the product list if further information emerges.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
