Beef and Pork Recalled Over Possible Human Blood Contamination

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The U.S.A. is on high alert when meat from a large, Alabama-based distributor, US Foods, is being recalled due to possible blood contamination. Restaurants are asked to check their freezers and fridges, and throw away or return any meat from this source.

US Foods declared a voluntary recall of over 712 pounds of fresh and frozen pork, ribeye, ribs, and beef. They suspect an employee at the factory may have accidentally cut himself while processing the meats.

This situation has been categorized as a “Class 1” recall by the USDA. “Class 1” means this case is a “health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” Fortunately, no reports of infections or disease have come from this possibly contaminated production.

The meat was produced on July 18—according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service—and distributed to restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee with the establishment number “EST. 21103” inside the USDA inspection mark. [1]

The brand names are reported to include:

• Stock Yard Angus
• Cattleman’s Selection
• Patuxent Farms 
• SRA [2]

A full list of the specific products can be found HERE 

The food labels associated with the recall can be viewed HERE

Most of these meat shipments were taken to several restaurants in the southern states. None of the products were distributed for retail sales.

Wary consumers can avoid contaminated meat by avoiding meat entrees in states where the meat was sent. They may also speak to the restaurant managers beforehand about the issue to ensure the food being served is safe. Someone concerned about contracting an illness from accidentally consuming this meat should contact a healthcare provider. [3]

The Potential Consequences of Consuming Human Blood

Cross-contamination with human blood increases the risk of transmitting serious disease. The most common blood-borne viruses include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. It is possible for someone to contract these infections without realizing it. [4] While transmitting some of this disease would theoretically be rare, any risk should be minimized, which is why a recall like this was put into place.  

Previous Health Safety Recalls

This is not the first time a meat company was forced to recently recall their products. On July 18, 2019, it was reported that a Canadian exotic meat company recalled ground bison after 21 people were infected with strains of E. coli. Eight people were hospitalized, but luckily, no one was killed by the disease.

“This recall was triggered by the company and a recall in another country,” stated the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on its website. “The (agency) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products.” [5]

Questions or Concerns

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (IFIS), if you have any food and safety questions regarding this recall you can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.skkaren.gov. [1]

You can also contact, the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem. [1]

The post Beef and Pork Recalled Over Possible Human Blood Contamination appeared first on The Hearty Soul.

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