USDA Issues Health Warning Over Illegally Imported Meat Products

If you have bought canned meat products in the last few months, you will want to make sure they aren't part of a health warning that was recently issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The agency is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that were illegally imported from the Philippines. Because of the way they were imported, they may not have been inspected properly.

What We Know

The problem was discovered when FSIS was performing routine surveillance activities at a retailer and found meat and poultry products from the Philippines that are not eligible to be exported to the U.S.

Related: Food Recalls Have Reached the Highest Level Since the COVID Pandemic

The Philippines is a country not eligible to export meat and poultry products to the United States. FSIS is continuing to investigate how these products entered the country.

The agency is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ and restaurants’ pantries and on retailers’ shelves, so they are urging you to check for them.

These items were shipped to restaurant and retail locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Products subject to the public health alert:

150-g. can of “Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF.”

175-g. can of “Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF.”

260-g. can of “Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF.”

150-g. can of “PUREFOODS CORNED BEEF.”

210-g. can of “PUREFOODS CORNED BEEF.”

150-g. can of “CHUNKEE CORNED BEEF.”

190-g. can of “CHUNKEE CORNED BEEF.”

7.43-oz. jar of “Lady’s Choice Chicken Spread.”

The products subject to the health alert do not bear any production establishment information. You can visit the USDA's website to see photos of the products.

What to Do

As of the time that the public health alert was issued, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these illegal products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact their healthcare provider.

Retailers who have purchased the products are urged not to sell them. Consumers and restaurants who have purchased these products are urged not to consume or serve them.

Consumers are asked to double bag the product when discarding it to reduce the possibility of animals accessing the product because the USDA cannot confirm whether the products were properly heated to control pathogens that may infect domestic livestock and poultry.

You can also request a refund for the products at the place of purchase and report where they were bought to the USDA.

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