Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Health Law Blogs -> Food Safety News

Health Law

: Food Safety News

Undeclared Wheat Brings Meat Recall

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

By mistakenly not disclosing wheat starch on the ingredient label, a California meat processor has been forced to recall 140,000 pounds of fully cooked assorted products.

Santa Ana-based Westlake Food Corporation issued the recall over the weekend, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Wheat is a known allergen.  FSIS said there is low health risk involved in the Class II recall, except of course for people with wheat allergies.

The products subject to recall include:

?    14-ounce packages of "GIO LUA TAY HO PORK MEAT LOAF WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAVES FULLY COOKED."
?    13-ounce packages of "BO VIEN TAY HO BEEF MEAT BALL FULLY COOKED."
?    14-ounce packages of "DOI GIO HEO TAY HO CURED PORK HOCK SAUSAGE WITH ONION WRAPPED IN PORK SKIN FULLY COOKED."
?    15-ounce packages of "CHA CHIIEN TAY HO FRIED PORK PATTIE FRIED IN VEGETABLE OIL FULLY COOKED."
?    13-ounce packages of "BO VIEN GAN TAY HO BEEF MEAT BALL WITH BEEF TENDON FULLY COOKED," produced between April 15, 2009 and April 14, 2010.

Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 1627A" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The assorted meat products were produced between January 1, 2010 and April 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted above. These products were distributed to restaurants and retail establishments nationwide.

The labeling error was discovered by FSIS during a routine inspection.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an allergic reaction should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers (including restaurants) of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumer and media with questions about the recall should contact Oanh Dam at (714) 973-2286.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on April 19, 2010 (boomark / email).