H-E-B, a San Antonio, TX-based grocery chain, is voluntarily recalling approximately 75,465 pounds of 13 different beef products from its stores due to the “possible presence of foreign material in the meat.” No illnesses have been reported. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, H-E-B meat processing workers discovered metal shavings in products via a metal detection system on June 10. The firm then alerted FSIS and reportedly destroyed products from the June 10 and 11 production dates. A company investigation determined the source of the fragments to be a failed bearing in auger machinery, FSIS stated. On June 27, a customer reported finding metal in the product (which was produced on June 9) during an in-store sampling. The products being recalled were produced June 9 and June 10, 2014, then distributed for retail sale in Texas. The packages may also bear the establishment number “EST. 7231” in the USDA mark of inspection on the package label. The following SKUs (stock keeping units) are impacted by this voluntary recall: Retail Vacuum Sealed Packages with sell-by dates of 7/4/2014 and 7/5/2014 of the following products:
- Hill Country Fare Beef Fajitas RP UPC beginning with 220344
- H-E-B Seasoned Beef Fajitas UPC beginning with 220736
- Mi Comida Beef Skirt Steak For Fajitas (Bulk Package) UPC beginning with 222322
- Mi Comida Beef Skirt Steak For Fajitas UPC beginning with 222340
- Hill Country Fare Beef Fajitas UPC beginning with 224234
- Texas BBQ Rub Style Beef Skirt UPC beginning with 238715
Retail Vacuum Sealed Packages with sell-by date of 6/24/2014 of the following products:
- Beef for Stew Meat UPC beginning with 222835
Retail Vacuum Sealed Packages with sell-by date of 6/27/2014 of the following products:
- H-E-B Seasoned Beef For Carne Guisada UPC beginning with 220595
Retail Packaged Styrofoam tray products with packed on dates of 6/9/2014 through 6/28/2014 of the following products:
- Stew meat RP UPC beginning with 220595
- Stew meat VP UPC beginning with 220621
- Beef for Stew UPC beginning with 221776
- Beef for Stew Meat VP UPC beginning with 222832
- Beef for Stew Meat Tenderized UPC beginning with 222836
Customers who purchased the affected product can return it to the store for a full refund. Customers with any questions or concerns may call H-E-B Customer Relations at 1-800-432-3113. H-E-B is a privately held company with more than 350 stores throughout Texas and in northern Mexico. It operates as general H-E-B stores, Central Market, H-E-B Plus, Mi Tienda and Joe V’s Smart Shop.
