The vertebral column may not have been completely removed
of ConsumerAffairs
Triple J Family Farms of Buffalo Lake, MN, is recalling approximately 15,270 pounds of bone-in ribeye products because the vertebral column may not have been completely removed. Federal regulations require the removal of vertebral column in cattle 30 months of age or older.
The products subject to recall are:
- Approx. 40-lb boxes of "BEEF B/I RIB," bearing any of the following case codes: "91-R109H-C," "91-R109H-S," "91-R109H-C-SB," or "91-R109H-S-SB."
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST.17466" inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were produced and packaged on various dates between Feb. 8, 2013, and March 21, 2013, and distributed to an establishment in New York for further processing and distribution.
The problem was discovered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) during a routine specified risk material (SRM) verification and may have occurred as a result of a recent change in the company's carcass separation practices. Vertebral column is considered a SRM and must be removed from cattle of 30 months of age or older in accordance with FSIS regulations. SRMs are tissues that may contain the infective agent in cattle infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, as well as materials that are closely associated with these potentially infective tissues. There is no indication that any of the cattle slaughtered displayed any signs of BSE.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company's HR and Office Manager, Kendra Williams, at (320) 833-2001.