WHAT: USDA Recalls 700 Pounds of Beef, Pork Citing Human Blood Contamination Fears

USDA 700 Pounds Beef Pork Human Blood

In a bizarre press release, the United States Department of Agriculture, announced that 700 pounds of raw beef and pork are being recalled citing concerns that it may have been contaminated with human blood.

The total recall is for about 712 pounds of raw pork and beef, that may have either been frozen or sold fresh. The products came from U.S. Foods, and were marked “EST. 21103” by the FDA.

Concerns were voiced after U.S. Foods learned one of its employees may have suffered a cut while working and did not immediately stop work to address the cut.

From the USDA press release:

US Foods, a Birmingham, AL, establishment, is recalling approximately 712 pounds of raw beef and pork products that may be adulterated due to possible product contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The fresh and frozen raw beef and pork items were produced July 18, 2019. This spreadsheet contains a list of the products subject to recall. [View labels (PDF only)]

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 21103” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The problem was discovered after the facility learned that an employee may have cut himself during production.

The press release also notes there have been no confirmed cases of adverse effects from contamination, but urges anyone concerned to immediately contact a healthcare provider.

Additionally, there are concerns the tainted products may have been sold to restaurants, and urges anyone who purchased the tainted meats to immediately throw them away or to return them to the place of purchase.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers. Restaurants who have purchased these products are urged not to serve them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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. When available, the retail distribution lists will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

The USDA is largely viewed as an incompetent government bureaucracy that squeezes out small business in favor of the Chamber of Commerce and big business.

Big League Politics reported earlier this year:

Iowa’s farming industry is booming for massive conglomerates while the small farmers are taking a pounding like never before. A recent Axios report highlighted the many bankruptcies that have come as a result of the rising dominance of Big Agriculture.

“We are going down the same road as the Russians with the collective farm system,” said Chris Petersen, a third-generation pig farmer who was forced into bankruptcy, to Axios. “There, the government controlled it. Here, it’s the corporations.”

Hyper-concentration has taken over the agricultural industry, as Big Ag snuffs out all small competition standing in its way. According to the federal Department of Agriculture, four firms are responsible for 66 percent of hogs slaughtered, 85 percent of steer slaughtered, and half the chickens slaughtered as of 2015. Four monopoly firms also control 85 percent of corn seed sales, a 25 percent increase from 2000, and 75 percent of soy bean seed, up from 50 percent in 2000.

It is unknown how many products have been returned or thrown out following the press release.

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