USDA Issues Nationwide Public Health Alert Over Beef and Pork Products

The federal agency says that the products, made by Blackwing Meats, were produced without federal inspection and may contain false labels.

U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington on June 28, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week issued a public health alert for beef and pork products sold across the United States, saying they were not produced under any inspection.

In a notice published on Wednesday, the USDA said that raw beef and pork products made by Blackwing Meats were produced without “the benefit of federal inspection” and may have a false mark of inspection in certain cases. The USDA said the problem was found during a routine inspection.

“Food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants that put consumer health and safety at risk,” said a press release from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

“FSIS is continuing to investigate and may add additional products to this alert as more information is obtained.”

There were no confirmed reports of illnesses or injury in connection with the products, it added.

The products should not be consumed and can be returned to the place of purchase, according to the news release. The USDA said that it sent the warning out of concerns that the items may be in consumer or retailer freezers.

List of Products Under USDA Alert

Labels for the products can be accessed on the USDA’s website, while the department specifically issued warnings on Blackwing Meats items, listed below:

• 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed piece of “Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef New York Strip Steaks,” with “EST. 1996” inside the USDA mark of inspection
• 10-pound box of 16-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed package of “Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Ground Beef”
• 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed package of “Blackwing Organic Meats Grass Fed Organic Beef Stew,” with “EST. 1996” inside the USDA mark of inspection
• 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed piece of “Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef Steak Strips,” with “EST. 1996” inside the USDA mark of inspection
• 1-pound vacuum-packed package of “Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Ground Beef Ground From Organic Beef,” without the USDA mark of inspection
• 12-ounce vacuum-packed package of “Blackwing Meats Pork Ground Made From Organic Pork,” without the USDA mark of inspection
• 12-ounce vacuum-packed package of “Blackwing Meats Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops 2-6oz Made from Organic Pork,” without the USDA mark of inspection

The products were produced between April 2024 and March 2026, the USDA said, and they were sold to retail and wholesale locations across the United States.

The first four items involve the “unauthorized use” of a USDA establishment number, “EST. 1996,” and a “false USDA mark of inspection,” the news release said.

The Epoch Times contacted the company for comment on Friday. It’s not clear why the company did not issue a recall of the items.

Ground Beef Receives Health Alert

Separately, the USDA recently issued a similar health alert about ground beef sold in five states made by a different company after metal was found in the products.  No recall was issued because the items were already pulled from stores.

The product is White Oak Pastures, Radically Traditional Farming, Grassfed Ground Beef, sold in 16-ounce packages in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as in the District of Columbia, it said. The items were sold at Mom’s Organic Markets retail locations in those states and in Washington.

At least two complaints were submitted in connection with the problem, the agency said. No reports of injuries have been submitted.