Plastic Found in Ground Beef Forces JBS to Recall 35,000 lb. of Meat

JBS USA has recalled approximately 35,464 lb. of raw ground beef following the finding of hard plastic in contaminated beef. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) made the announcement on May 2 following the discovery.

The ground beef was produced at the JBS USA case ready fresh meat processing facility in Lenoir, NC, on March 22.

JBS was made aware of the problem following the complaint of a consumer who found pieces of hard, blue colored plastic in some ground beef.

Products included in the recall were primarily Kroger branded products along with All Natural Laura’s Lean Beef and some Angus branded products.

The beef in the recall bears the establishment number “EST. 34176” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Beef was shipped from distribution centers in Virginia and Indiana.

No other problems have been reported and there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from eating the products.

However, FSIS is concerned that possibly contaminated ground beef might have been frozen after purchase. If any products bear the following labels it should be thrown out or returned to the store it was purchased at:

3-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN – 27% FAT” with product code 95051, UPC: 011110975645, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN – 20% FAT” with product code 95052, UPC: 011110969729, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
3-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN – 20% FAT” with product code 95053, UPC of 011110969705, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 80% LEAN – 20% FAT GROUND CHUCK” with product code 95054, UPC: 011110971395, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN – 15% FAT” with product code 95055, UPC: 011110969682, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND SIRLOIN 90% LEAN – 10% FAT GROUND BEEF” and product code 95056, UPC: 011110975638, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 92% LEAN 8% FAT GROUND BEEF” with product code 95057, UPC: 612669316714, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 96% LEAN 4% FAT GROUND BEEF” with product code 95058, UPC: 612669317063, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 90% LEAN – 10% FAT GROUND SIRLOIN” with product code 95063, UPC: 011110969637 and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN – 7% FAT” with product code 95064, UPC: 01111096920, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
15-lb. cases containing “JBS Ground Beef Angus Chuck 80% Lean 20% Fat Service Case” with Case UPC: 0040404800632 and a “Sell By: 9.APRIL.”
15-lb. cases containing “Ground Beef Angus Sirloin 90% Lean 10% Fat Service Case” Case UPC: 0040404800634, and a “Sell By: 9.APRIL.”
The recall is being categorized as a “Class II” recall by FSIS meaning it poses a health hazard with remote probability of adverse health consequences should the product be consumed.