Walmart brand cottage cheese recalled
The FDA has announced a recall of Great Value brand cottage cheese sold in 24 states. This includes fat-free and low-fat small curd varieties sold from February 17th to February 20th.
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A public health warning has been issued for some raw beef and pork products that have not been federally inspected.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on Wednesday, March 25, alleging that some Blackwing raw beef and pork products were produced without the benefit of federal inspection. According to FSIS, food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, and other contaminants.
This issue was discovered during an ongoing FSIS investigation.
As of March 25, neither FSIS nor Blackwing were aware of any illnesses or injuries associated with consumption of raw beef or pork products. USA TODAY contacted Blackwing on March 27 for an update.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest public health warnings.
Which beef and pork products are affected by the public health alert?
The public health alert affects seven Blackwing products, as outlined by FSIS.
- A 5-pound box of vacuum-sealed 8-ounce packages of “Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef New York Strip Steak” with “Est. 1996” written inside the USDA inspection mark.
- A 10-pound box of 16-ounce packages containing vacuum-packed “Blackwing Organic Meats organic ground beef.”
- A 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed package of “Blackwing Organic Meats Grass Fed Organic Beef Stew Meat.” “Est. 1996” is written inside the USDA inspection mark.
- 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages of vacuum-packed “Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef Steak Strips.” “Est. 1996” is written inside the USDA inspection mark.
- A 1-pound vacuum-sealed package of “Blackwing Meats Blackwing Beef Ground from Organic Beef” without the USDA inspection mark.
- A 12-ounce vacuum-sealed package of Blackwing Meats Ground Pork Made from Organic Pork without the USDA Inspection Mark.
- “Blackwing Meats Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops 2-6-ounces Made from Organic Pork” 12-ounce vacuum-sealed package without USDA mark of inspection.
Where were the affected beef and pork products sold?
According to FSIS, the affected products were sold at wholesale and retail stores nationwide. As of March 27th, the specific location has not been disclosed.
What to do if you have beef or pork products subject to a public health alert
Do not consume products affected by public health warnings. Discard the product or return it to the store of purchase.
Consumers can contact Blackwing Meats President Roger Gerber at 847-838-4888 or roger@blackwing.com for more information, FSIS said in a statement.
Consumers with questions about food safety can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or submit questions to MPHotline@usda.gov. Consumers who wish to report problems with meat, poultry, or egg products can submit a form on the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/). FSIS says the forms are monitored 24 hours a day.
What is the difference between a recall and a public health warning?
According to FSIS, a recall is a voluntary action by a company to remove from sale “an adulterated or misbranded product.” Recalls are intended to protect the public from unsafe or improperly labeled foods.
Public health alerts, on the other hand, are issued by FSIS to inform the public about potential health risks when a recall cannot be recommended. For example, FSIS may be aware of a foodborne illness outbreak, but the source of the outbreak has not been determined.
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
