Sampco, Inc., a Chicago, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 87,000 pounds of beef products that may contain the animal drug Ivermectin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic and is used as a de-worming agent in live animals.
The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels] 12 oz. cans of "Libby’s CORNED BEEF" distributed to retail locations nationwide with production codes "100222 U," "100219 U," or "100224 U." 35 lb. boxes of "Seasoned Cooked Beef" distributed to an establishment for further processing.
Each product package bears "BRASIL 337 S.I.F" on either the top or the side, as well as "Product of Brazil" or "Packed under Brazilian Government Inspection."
The problem was discovered through FSIS routine sampling. Since March 15, 2010, samples from cooked beef products imported from Brazil establishment SIF 337 have resulted in twelve instances of the level of Ivermectin found in the product exceeding the tolerance level established by the Department of Health and Human Service’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of 10 parts per billion in beef muscle. The production lots that produced violative results were refused entry into the U.S. and are not available in commerce. However, it was discovered associated products with similar source materials entered the country separately. These are the products that were released into commerce and therefore subject to the recall. The Brazilian firm SIF 337 has been delisted and beef products from that establishment are not permitted entry to the U.S.
FSIS is taking additional actions regarding other lots of cooked beef products from Brazil establishment SIF 337 and other manufacturers of cooked beef products from Brazil. The Agency plans to sample at Point of Entry cooked beef product from other manufacturers of like product from Brazil to ensure the problem is only associated with product from SIF 337.
Additional product information regarding FSIS’ Point of Entry sampling can be found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
RC_033_2010_Point_of_Entry_Sampling.pdf (PDF Only)
FSIS will also perform retail sampling of lots of other cooked beef product from SIF 337 that entered the country since January 2010 to determine if any of these products in commerce may have Ivermectin above the FDA tolerance level. If additional product is found in commerce, FSIS will take the appropriate regulatory action.
Additional product information regarding FSIS’ retail sampling can be found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
RC_033_2010_Retail_Sampling.pdf (PDF Only)
FSIS is responsible for assuring that imported meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. FSIS randomly samples products at ports for drug and chemical residues.
FSIS and the company have received no reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician. Consumers who have purchased this product should return it to their point of purchase.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact the company Hotline at (800) 685-6328.
Additional information regarding FSIS’s import inspection and sampling procedures can be found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/
fsis_import_reinspection/index.asp
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
If a domestic plant were to have this kind of violation, are all other plants in the U.S. making a similar product also tested to verify that they do not have a similar problem ?