A Hanford, CA, meat company has recalled more than 58,000 pounds of ground beef after a Food Safety and Inspection Service investigation prompted by customer complaints found that the product may contain “foreign materials.” FSIS announced late Thursday that Central Valley Meat Company was recalling the products because it may contain small pieces of plastic. The products were shipped to distribution centers in Arkansas, California, Montana and Texas and were intended for use by the National School Lunch Program. The products subject to recall include:

  • 40-lb. cases containing 10-lb. chubs of “Fine Ground Beef.”

The products bear the establishment number “Est. 6063A” inside the USDA Mark of Inspection. They were produced on April 1, 2013, and can be further identified by case code “6063A3091A” or “6063A3091B.” Neither the agency nor the company have received reports of illness or injury due to consumption of these products, FSIS stated, adding that anyone concerned about an illness or injury should contact a health care professional. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Brian Coelho, general manager of Central Valley Meat Company, at (559) 583-9624. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), is available in English and Spanish and can be reached weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Recorded food-safety messages are available 24 hours a day. For information on how to report a problem with a meat, poultry or processed egg product to FSIS at any time, visit www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Problems_With_Food_Products. For information about the National School Lunch Program, call 703-305-2281 or visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/food-safety/food-safety. USDA suspended operations last year at Central Valley Meat Company and the company was also barred from supplying meat to the National School Lunch Program after animal-rights groups released a video showing mistreatment of cows sent there for slaughter. After agreeing to take corrective action in a number of operational areas, the company was later allowed to reopen.