Restaurant complaints about meat result in 46-ton recall

MF Meats of Falconer, NY, is recalling 93,277 pounds of raw meat products, which may have been contaminated with non-food grade mineral seal oil, which is not approved for use in meat processing, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The raw meat items were produced from Nov. 26, 2023 through Feb. 16, 2024. The following products are subject to recall:    

• Various weights of meat cuts, including but not limited to steaks, sausage, meat loaf and ground meat. The products display Julian dates of 330-365 (November 26 – December 31) and 1-47 (January 1 – February 16). View the product list here.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 569” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to restaurants in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.                              

The problem was discovered after the firm received four complaints from restaurants reporting a chemical taste in the meat products. After investigating, the firm determined that its mineral oil supplier sent them a drum containing non-food grade mineral seal oil labeled as food grade mineral oil. The non-food grade mineral seal oil was applied to food contact surfaces and not directly to the meat products.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.  

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

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)