Criminal Investigation of Huntington Meat Leads to Massive Beef and Veal Recall
Huntington Meat Packing Inc. of Montebello, California, is under criminal investigation and the probe has led to the recall of 4.9 million pounds of beef and veal products made over the past year.
Less than a month ago, an E. coli O157:H7 beef problem at Huntington prompted the recall of 864,000 pounds of patties and bulk ground beef products. No illnesses have been directly linked to the company's recalled meat, but this second recall is for operating under insanitary conditions.
A USDA press release says the violation and recall stem from a criminal investigation of the California meat packer by the Office of Inspector General with assistance from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Details of the criminal probe were not disclosed.
"The products are adulterated because the company made the products under insanitary conditions failing to take the steps it had determined were necessary to produce safe products,'' the press release said.
Each packing plant or processor is required to have a HAACP plan that describes the process controls needed to prevent food safety hazards and create a safe and wholesome product. "The investigation has uncovered evidence to show that the food safety records of the establishment cannot be relied upon to document compliance with the requirements,'' the press release.
National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen, which represents consumers in food poisoning claims, is monitoring the investigation of Huntington Meat Packing. For answers to legal questions about victims' rights in foodborne illness cases, call us at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page.
The recalled beef and veal products from Huntington were produced from January 22, 2009, to January 4, 2010 and were sold to distribution centers, hotels and restaurants in California. Here is the list of products subject to recall. They all are marked with USDA establishment number EST 17967.
- 10 lb. boxes of "IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY"
- 10 lb. boxes of "El Rancho MEAT & PROVISION ALL BEEF PATTIES"
- 20 lb. boxes of "IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY"
- 50 lb. boxes of "HUNTINGTON MEATS GROUND BEEF"
- 50 lb. boxes of " HUNTINGTON MEAT PKG. INC. BEEF GROUND FOR FURTHER PROCESSING"
- 50 lb. boxes of "BEEF BURRITO FILLING MIX"
- 50 lb. boxes of "HUNTINGTON MEAT PKG. INC. DICED BEEF"
- 50 lb. boxes of "HUNTINGTON MEAT PKG. INC. SLICED BEEF"
- 10 lb. boxes of "Huntington Meat VEAL PATTY"
- 10 lb. boxes of "Imperial Meat VEAL PATTY"
- 10 lb. boxes of "El Rancho VEAL PATTY"
- 20 lb. boxes of "Huntington Meat VEAL PATTY"
- 20 lb. boxes of "Imperial Meat VEAL PATTY"
- 20 lb. boxes of "El Rancho VEAL PATTY"
