Beef and pork products recalled for lack of USDA inspection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service is warning against certain "ready-to-eat" beef and shredded pork products made by E-Z Shop Kitchens in Fremont, Ohio. The meat products were apparently made and sold without federal inspection.

According to the Dept. of Agriculture's FSIS, the meats were sold to both institutions and to retail consumer outlets in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia between July 1 and Oct. 6. There have been no reports of foodborne illnesses from the uninspected meat, but the FSIS warns that it has still yet to determine the amount of E-Z Kitchens meat may have bypassed the required inspection process.

For now, the FSIS warns consumers should be aware the current recall involves the following beef and pork products:

• 16-ounce and 4-pound tub containers of "E-Z SHOP KITCHEN SEASONED BEEF " that bear the establishment number "EST. 19665" in the USDA mark of inspection.
• 16-ounce and 4-pound tub containers of "E-Z SHOP KITCHEN SHREDDED PORK WITH BBQ SAUCE " that bear the establishment number "EST. 19665" in the USDA mark of inspection.
• 16-ounce and 4-pound tub containers of "E-Z SHOP KITCHEN SHREDDED BEEF WITH BBQ SAUCE " that bear the establishment number "P-19665" in the USDA mark of inspection.

FSIS continue its investigation of E-Z Kitchens and, when available, will publish a complete list of retail distributors on the FSIS website: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

Consumers concerned about the recalled meat can contact E-Z Kitchens (419-334-2667) or visit the FSIS food safety website, AskKaren.gov.

Consumer Reports' Food Safety Guide includes food-handling tips such as How to avoid the most dangerous food-prep mistakes and The nine foods to handle with extreme care.

Ohio Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Beef, Pork Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection [US FDA]

—Paul Eng