Minute metal fragments found on a ready-to-eat hamburger prompted an Iowa company to recall approximately 10,668 pounds of beef patties, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced late Friday.
AdvancePierre Foods of an Orange City, Iowa said the problem was discovered after a consumer found metal particles on the surface of a patty and complained to an H-E-B grocery retailer in San Antonio, TX.
The company says production equipment problems with a char-marker may have caused a metal surface to overheat and shed small flakes onto the meat.
This is a class III recall, which means the product will not cause adverse health consequences, and FSIS says it has received no reports of injury. But because of the potential metal content, the burgers should not be reheated in a microwave oven, FSIS advises.
The recalled meat was sold in 12-lb packages containing 8 24-ounce bags of H-E-B FULLY COOKED LEAN BURGERS with the H-E-B item code 100538 and EST. 2568 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on June 7, 2011 and distributed to H-E-B stores in San Antonio.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company vice president Jon Shehane at 513-682-7139.