Federal inspectors say more than 80 tons of beef, pork and goat never passed a real inspection, and some of it may already be in your freezer

Somewhere between a North Carolina processing operation and dinner tables across the country, an official-looking stamp was doing a lot of heavy lifting. According to federal food safety officials, it was never real.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that 167,639 pounds of beef, pork and goat products are being recalled after investigators determined the meat was produced without federal inspection and packaged with counterfeit USDA marks of inspection. That adds up to more than 80 tons of meat spread across more than 20 products, and the agency warned the tally could grow as its investigation unfolds.

How a Fake Stamp Came to Light

The problem surfaced through surveillance work by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the arm of the agency responsible for making sure meat, poultry and egg products are safe and properly labeled before they reach consumers.

For most shoppers, the USDA mark of inspection is one of the most familiar symbols in the meat aisle. It signals that a product came from a facility operating under federal oversight, where inspectors verify sanitation, handling and labeling.

Investigators traced the products to Star Meat Delivery Inc., a North Carolina-based company that produced the items on multiple dates through Sept. 22. Every affected package bears a mark of inspection displaying establishment number EST 1363. The catch, according to the USDA, is that the number is not tied to any federal grant of inspection. In other words, the seal meant to assure buyers that a government inspector had signed off on the meat was essentially a forgery.

From there, the products were shipped to A&D Foods in Georgia, where they were expected to be distributed to grocery stores and restaurants nationwide. That wide distribution path is what has officials most concerned.

Why This Recall Matters for Your Kitchen

Federal inspection is not a bureaucratic formality. It is the checkpoint designed to catch problems long before they ever land on a plate. Without it, the USDA said, meat can carry undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria or other contaminants that would otherwise be caught and pulled from the supply chain.

So far, the agency is not aware of any illnesses connected to the recalled products. Still, officials are urging anyone worried about an illness or injury after eating the meat to contact a health care provider.

The bigger worry is that much of the meat may already be out of sight and out of mind. Vacuum-packed cuts are often tucked away for weeks or months, and the USDA said it is concerned that some products are sitting in refrigerators and freezers in homes, restaurants and stores.

What Consumers and Businesses Should Do

The guidance from federal officials is simple. Households that bought any of the affected products should not eat them, and restaurants and retailers should not sell or serve them. The meat should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

The USDA stressed that any product carrying the EST 1363 establishment number should be considered unsafe to eat, no matter how it looks or smells. For shoppers, that means taking a closer look at labels on goat, oxtail, short ribs, chorizo, pork feet and other cuts before they head to the stove. Anyone unsure about a package can compare its product name and establishment number against the list below.

The Full List of Recalled Products

All of the following were packed in cardboard boxes of various weights containing individually vacuum-packed A&D Foods products:

• GOAT CUT 1-1/2″ 10.00 LBS
• GOAT BURN SKIN ON CUT 1-1/2″ 10.00 LBS
• SLICE RIBEYE 4oz 10.00 LBS
• BEEF CHUCK THIN SLICED KBQ 4 MM 20.00 LBS
• BEEF OXTAIL CUT 10.00LBS
• BEEF SHORT RIBS SLD 3/8″ REGULAR 10.00 LBS
• SHANKS BONE IN CUT 1.5 10.00 LBS
• PORK GROUND 10.00LBS
• PORK CHORIZO 10.00 LBS
• PORK CHOP B/I 10.00 LBS
• PORK FEET CUT 8 PCS 10.00 LBS
• PORK FEET CUT 6 PCS 10.00 LBS
• PORK RIB PIECES PREM 1″ 10.00 LBS
• PORK BOSTON DICED 10.00 LBS
• PORK BOSTON SLICE 1 INCH 20.00 LBS
• Menudo Mix 30.00 LBS
• PORK BOSTON THIN SLICED 3.5MM 20.00 LBS
• PORK HOCK SLICED 10.00 LBS
• Beef Ribs 4Bone 2″ C. Cut P/Caldo
• Beef Short Rib Thin Sliced
• Pork Boston Butt Sliced 4MM
• Beef Short Ribs SLD 3/8″ Premium C. Cut
• Beef Feet Cut

Officials cautioned that more products could join the list as the investigation continues, so it may be worth checking back before cooking anything from the freezer.

Source: LIVE NOW FOX