Washington News

Consumers urged to check corned beef cans in nationwide recall

By GINA HOLLAND The Associated Press 12/29/01 5:11 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- About 1.5 million pounds of corned beef have been recalled because of possible inedible ingredients, the government says. The recall involves nine companies that bought the product from a Brazilian supplier.

The corned beef is not dangerous, but it may contain beef byproducts that health officials consider inedible, the Agriculture Department said. The byproducts are not listed on the label.

Consumer should check the bottom of the cans to see if they are stamped "BRASIL INSPECIONADO 3031 S.I.F." If they are, they should be returned to the store for a refund, the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service said.

"Some of the ingredients found in this product are prohibited in the United States," said Margaret Glavin, acting administrator for the service.

She said no one has been sickened by the corned beef.

The Agriculture Department found the labeling problem during an inspection of a shipment from the Brazilian supplier. No more products are being shipped to America from that company, Glavin said.

Corned beef sells for about $2 for a 12-ounce can and is particularly popular for breakfast dishes. Brazil is the biggest supplier for the United States.

The recall involves products distributed nationwide and in Puerto Rico and Guam. Some of the cans distributed in the 50 states have Iberia, Key Food and Price Rite labels.

The nine companies are Astro Sales, Austral Foods and Tupman Thurlow Co., all of Simsbury, Conn.; Berns & Koppstein Foods, of New York; R.B.I. Company Inc., of Cliffside Park, N.J.; Sampco Inc., of Chicago; Tastie Farms Inc., of Allanuchy, N.J.; Transmundo Inc., of Miami; and Zwanenberg Food Group, of Morristown, N.J., the USDA said.

The recall could affect about 5 percent of the corned beef supply, said industry spokesman Jerome Breiter.

"There's still a lot of corned beef from other establishments which is fine," Breiter, executive secretary for the Western Hemisphere Association of Meat Marketers, said Saturday.

Consumers with questions can call the association at (435) 940-9035.

-- Anonymous, December 30, 2001

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-- Anonymous, December 30, 2001

I thought she had but didn't have time to look. Better to have and not need. . .

-- Anonymous, December 30, 2001