The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday that Vatran’s Fine Foods. Inc., of Tracy, CA, was recalling approximately 11,500 pounds of assorted meat and poultry products because “they were produced without the benefit of federal inspection.”

The Federal Meat Inspection Act requires that the USDA’s food safety agency, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), provide inspection for all meat products sold in interstate commerce and also imported meat products to ensure they meet U.S. food safety standards.

Vatran’s recalled a long list of sausage products for lacking USDA inspection.  For a full list of recalled products, see the USDA release.  In general, consumers should look for products that bear EST. 34334, P-34334 or EST. 34334-M establishment numbers to identify affected products. Photos of the product labels are available here.

According to FSIS, the products affected were produced on various dates from March to October 2009 and distributed to retail stories in the San Joaquin Valley area in California. USDA will post the retail distribution list when it becomes available.

The USDA reminds consumers with food safety questions to “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative who is available 24 hours a day at askkaren.gov.