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Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health warning that beef jerky products may contain allergens not listed on the snack packaging.
In a notice shared online March 1, FSIS said the three products may contain soy lecithin, an allergen. Because the product is no longer available for purchase, authorities issued a public health warning rather than a recall.
According to the alert, there have been no reports of side effects related to beef jerky.
Learn more about public health warnings.
What beef jerky products are included in the public health warning?
The agency’s health warning covers three Punahele Jerky Company products, including:
- Dry Hawaiian Style Beef Crisps 6oz Bag (Salt and Pepper Flavor)
- 4 oz bag of Uncle K’s Beef Crisps
- Kilauea Fire Spicy Beef Crisps 4oz Bag
In which states was the beef jerky product sold?
The snacks were sold at retail stores in Hawaii as well as online nationwide, the notice said. According to the alert, FSIS noticed the problem during a routine label review.
What to do if you have a beef jerky product with a public health warning
FSIS said in a public health alert that the agency is concerned that some customers may be storing the product in their pantries, which is the reason for the public health alert.
According to the agency, the package of ready-to-eat beef jerky has a best-before date of February 17, 2027.
“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,” FSIS said in the warning. “These products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.”
If you have any questions, please contact Hilo Fish Company at 808-961-0877.
Customers can also call USDA’s Food Safety Meat and Poultry Hotline toll-free at 888-674-6854, email questions to MPHotline@usda.gov, or report problems with meat, poultry, and eggs using the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (www.foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF).
What is soy lecithin?
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, lecithin is a group of chemicals that the body uses to move fat.
It is found in foods such as egg yolks, soybeans, wheat germ, peanuts, and liver. Some people take it as a supplement. It is available in capsule, liquid, and granule form.
In the food industry, lecithin is used as an additive to combine foods, the medical center added. One example is salad dressing. Judy Simon, a clinical nutritionist at the University of Washington, previously told USA TODAY that soy lecithin emulsifies ingredients such as oil and water, blending salad dressings into a smooth consistency.
Contributor: Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia (757). Email sdmartin@usatoday.com.
