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Brazilian Animal Drug Abuse Brings Recall

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Cooked beef products from one source in Brazil have been stopped at the border because they contain too much of a broad-spectrum antiparasitic used as a de-worming agent in animals.  Some "associated products" did get through.

That's why Chicago's Sampco Inc. finds itself in the middle of a second-class, low health risk recall of 87,000 pounds of beef.

The following products are subject to recall:

-12 oz. cans of "Libby's CORNED BEEF" distributed to retail locations nationwide with production codes "100222 U," "100219 U," or "100224 U."

-35 lb. boxes of "Seasoned Cooked Beef" distributed to an establishment for further processing.

Each product package bears "BRASIL 337 S.I.F" on either the top or the side, as well as "Product of Brazil" or "Packed under Brazilian Government Inspection."

The problem with the Sampco meat was discovered through FSIS routine sampling.

Since March 15, 2010, samples from cooked beef products imported from Brazil establishment SIF 337 have resulted in twelve instances of the level of Ivermectin found in the product exceeding the tolerance level established by the Department of Health and Human Service's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of 10 parts per billion in beef muscle.

The production lots that produced violative results were refused entry into the U.S. and are not available in commerce. However, it was discovered associated products with similar source materials entered the country separately. These are the products that were released into commerce and therefore subject to the recall. The Brazilian firm SIF 337 has been delisted and beef products from that establishment are not permitted entry to the U.S.

FSIS is taking additional actions regarding other lots of cooked beef products from Brazil establishment SIF 337 and other manufacturers of cooked beef products from Brazil. The Agency plans to sample at Point of Entry cooked beef product from other manufacturers of like product from Brazil to ensure the problem is only associated with product from SIF 337.

FSIS will also perform retail sampling of lots of other cooked beef product from SIF 337 that entered the country since January 2010 to determine if any of these products in commerce may have Ivermectin above the FDA tolerance level. If additional product is found in commerce, FSIS will take the appropriate regulatory action.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on May 17, 2010 (boomark / email).