| Nutrition Services Division Information Alert |
|
| To: Food Distribution Program Recipient Agencies |
Number: USDA-FDP-07-2008 |
| Attention: Food Program (or Service) Director |
Date: February 2008 |
| Subject: Westland Beef Recall Notice and Instructions | |
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a “Recall” on all Hallmark/Westland beef products produced between October 1, 2006 and February 29, 2008 currently on “Hold.” In addition, the USDA is recalling all Hallmark/Westland meat products produced between February 1, 2006, and October 6, 2006.
As a result of an ongoing investigation, the recall was announced February 18, 2008, by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and is designated Class II due to the remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
The following USDA commodities are affected:
- Hallmark/Westland Meat Company products dating back to February 1, 2006
- USDA Fine Ground Beef 40 (USDA Code A608) which may be identified by the Establishment Number (Est. 336)
- USDA Beef Bulk Coarse (USDA Code A594)
- The following processors have made processed end-products that may (or may not) contain Westland beef. These processors have a full listing of lot numbers, product codes, and production dates available to assist agencies in determining which products contain Westland beef:
- Advance Food Company
- Don Lee Farms
- Integrated
- JTM Provisions, Inc.
- MCI Foods
- Pierre Foods
- Rose and Shore Meat, Inc.
All Hallmark/Westland products, including further processed products containing any amount of Hallmark/Westland beef, must be destroyed and cannot be used or reconditioned for human consumption.
How to Dispose of 50 Cases or Less of Recalled Products
Agencies are authorized immediately to destroy on-site 50 or fewer cases of beef from Westland or processed end-products containing beef from Westland. These products must be destroyed in such a manner that they cannot be used for human consumption according to destruction guidance from your local health authority or by dumping, burning, or putting in garbage. All containers must be opened and destroyed completely.
- Destruction must be witnessed by a person of authority (such as a food service director) and one other person.
- Each witness must sign the destruction verification form.
- The type of product, quantity, and destruction method must be noted on the form.
How to Dispose of More Than 50 Cases
More than 50 cases (but less than a truckload) of product must be taken to a landfill, incinerated, or sent for inedible rendering.
- Destruction of these larger quantities must be witnessed by a person of authority, (such as a food service director) an official from the landfill, incineration plant, or rendering plant.
- The destruction verification form must be signed by these two witnesses.
- The type of product, quantity, and destruction method must be noted on the form.
How to Dispose of Truckload Quantities
Very large quantities (e.g., a truckload) held at cold storage facilities, warehouses, or further processors will require special arrangements with landfills or other disposal sites, incinerators, or rendering facilities.
- Destruction of these larger quantities must be witnessed by a person of authority, (such as a food service director) an official from the landfill, incineration plant, or rendering plant.
- The destruction verification form must be signed by these two witnesses.
- The type of product, quantity, and destruction method must be noted on the form.
Reimbursements
The USDA informs us that they are pursuing all avenues to reimburse agencies for costs associated with this recall. Agencies should submit the attached form along with the appropriate back-up documentation. The form asks for destruction information as well as costs and payee information. Receipts for costs incurred should accompany this form. Please return this form by February 28, 2008, to:
Food Distribution Program
Nutrition Services Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 1500
Sacramento, CA 95814
Reimbursable Expenses
The following are reimbursable expenses and must be accompanied by receipts:
- Transportation to a disposal facility
- Storage (up to one month at a distributor or processor)
- Destruction costs
- Processing costs
Non-reimbursable Expenses
The following are examples of, but not limited to, non-reimbursable expenses:
- Original shipping and handling costs
- Storage at school level
- Overtime compensation for employees
- Long-distance phone calls and other associated administrative expenses
- Reimbursement for commercially-purchased food used in place of the recalled product
Replacement
The USDA is pursuing every avenue available to provide replacement of the raw commodity in a timely manner. The Food Distribution Program will keep you apprised of new developments.
For the latest questions and answers on the Westland Recall, please visit the USDA’s official Web site:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome (Outside Source)
Please share this information with your district/agency management and business personnel as appropriate. If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Amy Bell, Commodity Consultant, Commodity Distribution Unit, at 916-322-5051, or by e-mail at abell@cde.ca.gov. You may also contact Carol Guenther-Wilson, Commodity Consultant, Commodity Distribution Unit, at 916-324-9875, or by e-mail at cguenthe@cde.ca.gov.
Attachment
Beef Destruction Information Form (DOC; 37KB; 1p.)
See also:
- CDE News Release: #08-19
- Information Alert: USDA Admin. Hold Extension - February 2008
USDA-FDP-04-2008: Extension of USDA administrative hold on coarse and fine ground beef - Information Alert: USDA Administrative Hold - February 2008
NSD-FDP-01-2008: USDA administrative hold on coarse and fine ground beef. - School Food Authorities Affected by Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. Beef Recall (PDF; Outside Source)
