Massive Meat Recall Leads To California Plant Closure

A massive meat recall has led to the closure of a California plant. On Saturday, Rancho Feeding Corporation announced they were recalling nearly 9 million pounds of beef products. The questionable meat was distributed throughout four states, including California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas. Officials said the meat, which may have come from diseased cows, was not inspected prior to distribution.

In an official statement, the US Food Safety and Inspection Service said Rancho “processed diseased and unsound animals… without the benefit of full benefit of federal inspection.” Therefore the meat was determined to be “adulterated… unsound, unwholesome.. unfit for human food.”

The recall is primarily limited to offal and variety meats, including whole carcasses, liver, tripe, feet, hearts, and similar items. The packaging is marked “EST. 527” and the case codes all end in “3” or “4.” The questionable meat was processed between January 1 and January 7.

Although Rancho has identified numerous stores where the meat was distributed, they are still attempting to track down a large portion of the recalled meat. A majority of the meat was distributed to markets which cater to Hispanic consumers and restaurants that specialize in Mexican cuisine.

As reported by Los Angeles Times, consumers are warned to check meat they have already purchased. No sickness has been reported from consuming the meat. However, the unused portions should be returned to the store or thrown away.

The meat recall prompted Rancho to halt operations and close the California plant. In an official statement, quality control manager Scott Parks said he regrets the inconvenience. However, the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution.”

Unfortunately, this is not the first meat recall for Rancho Feeding Corporation. In January, the company was forced to recall close to 42,000 pounds of beef, which had not been inspected. Company officials have not commented on why or how the meat was processed without inspection. However, it seems to be on ongoing issue.

Rancho officials said the plant closure will give them time to review their policies and procedures so they can avoid similar issues in the future.

Although nobody has reported illness associated with eating the meat, the FSIS urges anyone who suspects they have food poising to contact their doctor immediately. Consumers with further questions about the recall can contact Rancho’s quality control manager at (707) 762-6651.

While the meat recall is extensive, the good news is nobody has gotten sick. Rancho is working with their distributors to identify shops that may have sold the questionable meat.

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