More than 160,000 pounds of meat bearing false USDA inspection labels recalled
Key Points:
- Star Meat Delivery Inc. is recalling over 167,000 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat nationwide due to products being shipped with falsified USDA inspection stickers, potentially affecting more than 83 tons of meat across the U.S.
- The USDA warns that uninspected meat may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants, though no illnesses or injuries have been reported so far.
- The recalled products bear a false USDA establishment number (EST. 1363), which does not have federal inspection approval, and were distributed through Georgia-based A&D Foods to retail and restaurant locations nationwide.
- Star Meat Delivery claims the establishment number was legitimately reserved during an ongoing USDA approval process and asserts that the meat was sourced from an inspected supplier; the company is cooperating with authorities and following recall procedures.
- Food safety experts note that recalls due to forged inspection stamps are rare and emphasize that existing systems are effective in detecting such violations, underscoring the importance of federal inspections.