Corned beef, chicken products imported to U.S. illegally, shipped to Ohio stores: Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a public alert for some meat and poultry products that were illegally imported.

Editor’s note: We have corrected an error in this story regarding the status of a USDA public health alert. We regret the error.

WASHINGTON (WKBN) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced in a press release that some meat and poultry products were imported from overseas illegally in a public health alert.

On the USDA’s website, it says that the corned beef and chicken products were shipped to restaurants and retail stores in several states including Ohio. The report says that the products were shipped from the Philippines.

The following ready-to-eat meat and poultry products were a part of 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 USDA said that no one has had adverse reactions to the products and that anyone who is concerned about a reaction should contact their healthcare provider.

The USDA said that the issue was discovered when FSIS was performing routine surveillance activities at a retailer and found meat and poultry products from the Philippines that were shipped were not eligible to be exported to the U.S. The report said that the products do not have any producing establishment information.

The FSIS said they are concerned that these products have ended up in consumers’ and restaurants’ pantries and on retailers’ shelves. Retailers are urged not to sell them and consumers are being asked not to eat or serve them.

Consumers are being asked to double bag the products when throwing them away to protect animals from them. Reports said that the USDA could not confirm whether the products were properly heated to control pathogens of concern to domestic livestock and poultry.

If you have questions about the public health alert, you can contact John Ducar, Owner, Redsealuxury, LLC, at 646-669-4020 or johnny@redsealux.com. The USDA said that consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov.