The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for beef products which were illegally imported from Mexico into the United States.
The FSIS has said that these products, which were not certified for export to the U.S., are "unfit for human consumption."
As the products were not certified to export by the Mexican government, they were not produced under inspection, and do not have a certified establishment number on their packaging or USDA mark of inspection.
These products were not given to the FSIS for an import reinspection, as is required; these products are ineligible to import into the U.S. The FSIS is investigating how the products were entered into the country.
Recalled meat items:
- "INCA GRASA COMESTIBLE DE SEBO BOVINO" (edible fat from beef tallow) - 1kg or 500g bags.
The problem was discovered when the FSIS was performing surveillance activities at a retailer and found beef tallow products from an unverified Mexican supplier.
The products were shipped to distribution and retail locations in Arizona. The FSIS said that the products may be on consumers' pantries or on retailers' shelves. Any retailer who has purchased the products is urged not to sell them.
Consumers that have purchased the products are urged not to consume them. The products should either be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
There have been no reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of the products. The FSIS advised that anyone who is concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.
Food safety is a chief pressing concern in the United States. The combination of food production networks and complex supply chains creates both opportunities and risks for contamination.
There have been two notable incidents of late which have sparked concerns: a listeria outbreak involving ready-to-eat meat products and an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald's. Both of these events underscored the need for consistent oversight and stronger preventive measures in food safety.
In October 2024, the CDC reported a listeria outbreak which was linked to prepackaged meat and chicken products distributed by BrucePac, an Oregon-based food production. The contaminated items estimated to total over 11 million pounds of meat.
To address these recurring issues, the U.S. government has introduced and strengthened various food safety measures.
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act—FSMA—is designed to enable the FDA to focus on prevention rather than simply responding to contamination after it occurs. Additionally, it enhances the FDA's authority to carry out inspections, mandate recalls, and ensure compliance, which aims to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illnesses in the U.S.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
English (US) ·