California-based Central Valley Meat Company is recalling almost 90,000 pounds of ground beef, sold as "Fine Ground Beef," the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.
This is an extension of an earlier recall of ground beef manufactured by the same company that was ordered on Sept. 19. The products recalled in both cases were intended for the National School Lunch Program and were distributed in Arkansas, Nebraska and North Carolina.
The reason for the recall is suspicion that the ground meat may contain small pieces of plastic. The products to be recalled can be identified by the establishment number "Est. 6063A" inside the USDA Mark of Inspection and by the case code "6063A3204A," "6063A3204B" or "6063A3204C." The lots were produced on July 23, 2013, the FSIS said.
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An ongoing investigation by FSIS revealed the presence of tiny particles of plastic in samples taken from ground beef at the Central Valley Meat Company facility in Hanford, Calif., leading to the recall. At present, there are no reports of illness associated with consumption of the recalled product, the agency stated.
This FSIS is monitoring the recall procedures to ensure they are effective and that the products are safely removed from the supply chain and cannot reach consumers. Recalling companies are obliged to notify consumers that they are recalling their products, the FSIS pointed out.
