Texas Firm Recalls Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2014 HEB Meat Processing, a San Antonio, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 75,465 pounds of various fresh beef products because they may be contaminated with foreign materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall include: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• Various weight vacuum sealed packages of HEB, iSeasoned Beef Skirt Steak for Fajitas” with sell-by dates of 7/4/2014 and 7/5/2014; with UPC code beginning 220736
• Various weight vacuum sealed packages of HEB, iSeasoned Beef for Carne Guisada” with sell-by date of 6/27/2014; with UPC code beginning 220595
• Various weight vacuum sealed packages of Hill Country Fare, iSeasoned Beef for Fajitas” with sell-by dates of 7/4/2014 and 7/5/2014; with UPC code beginning 224234 or 220344
• Various weight vacuum sealed packages of HEB, iMi Comida Seasoned Beef Skirt Steak for Fajitas” with sell-by dates of 7/4/2014 and 7/5/2014; with UPC code beginning 222322 or 222340
• Various weight vacuum sealed packages of HEB, iSeasoned Texas BBQ Rub Beef Skirt Steak” with sell-by dates of 7/4/2014 and 7/5/2014; with UPC code beginning 238715
• Various weight Styrofoam tray packed, iBeef for Stew,” packed on dates of 6/9/2014 through 6/28/2014 or the sell-by date of 6/24/2014; with UPC code beginning 222835, 220595, 220621, 221776, 222832 or 222836

The products were produced June 9 and June 10, 2014, then distributed for retail sale in Texas. The packages may also bear the establishment number iEST. 7231” in the USDA mark of inspection on the package label.

The firm alerted FSIS after HEB Meat Processing employees discovered metal shavings in products (via a metal detection system) June 10. Products from the June 10 and June 11 production date were destroyed as a result. The firm's investigation determined the source of the fragments to be from a failed bearing in auger machinery. On June 27, a customer reported finding metal in the product [produced on June 9] during an in-store sampling.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

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 list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website atwww.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact HEB Customer Relations at 1-800-432-3113. Media with questions about the recall should contact company Public Affairs Manager Dya Campos at (210) 938-8075.

Consumers with food safety questions can iAsk Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. iAsk Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.