WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Saturday issued a public health alert for various meat and poultry products containing recalled jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella, urging consumers not to eat affected products.
The alert concerns meat and poultry products made with jalapeños regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that were recalled because of possible Salmonella contamination, FSIS said. The agency issued the warning after determining that the recalled ingredient had been used in products subject to USDA inspection.
FSIS said the products covered by the alert may have been distributed to consumers and should not be consumed if they match the identifying information provided in the agency’s notice. Consumers who have the affected products should discard them or return them to the place of purchase, according to federal food-safety guidance.
The alert is part of a broader series of food-safety actions involving meat and poultry products in recent days. On Aug. 8, Chicago-based City Foods Inc. also recalled about 3,215 pounds of ready-to-eat pastrami and corned beef products because of possible Listeria contamination, according to FSIS.
Another recall announced Aug. 7 involved about 29,628 pounds of raw beef products imported by Corte Argentino USA LLC without the benefit of required import reinspection, FSIS said. The agency also announced a recall involving more than 5,000 pounds of frozen breaded fish products imported from the United Arab Emirates.
USDA regulates beef, poultry and processed egg products in the United States, while FDA regulates most other foods, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Food recalls can be initiated when products are contaminated or otherwise present a potential health hazard.
FSIS said its public health alert for the meat and poultry products containing the recalled jalapeños does not necessarily mean that all products containing the ingredient are contaminated, but consumers should follow the agency’s product-specific instructions. The agency’s alert remained in effect as of Aug. 10, with consumers advised to check the affected-product details before eating or serving the products.
