Weinstein Whole Meats recalls some of their ground beef burger patties. The Illinois meat wholesaler has issued a recall for over 2,000 pounds of raw ground beef burgers due to potential contamination with foreign material.
The recall comes after customers reported finding rubber-like pieces in the patties. The affected products contain pieces of white neoprene and may pose a risk to consumers.
Weinstein Whole Meats Recalls Their Burger Patties
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the recalled products from Weinstein Wholesale Meats' are the ground beef burger patties that are labeled: "100% Grass Fed & Finished Beef Burger Patties, 85% Lean, 15% Fat."
The products being recalled are 10.7-ounce vacuum-sealed packages containing two burger patties, produced on March 14, 2023, and with a "Use/Freeze By" date of April 11, 2023, printed on the label. The affected products bear the establishment number "Est. 6987" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The reason for the recall was that the company received several customer complaints about finding white "rubber-like" material in the ground beef patties while preparing them. Although there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products, the FSIS advises consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the affected products. The products were distributed to an online distributor, who sold them to customers nationwide.
According to Fox, there is a possibility that customers may have purchased the contaminated products and are unaware of the recall. Customers who have purchased the affected products are urged not to consume them and to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Weinstein Wholesale Meats is cooperating with FSIS and has completed an internal review at its Forest Park facility to implement corrective action. A spokesperson for the company confirmed that they had received five complaints, which they described as a "very small" amount of affected products. The spokesperson also stated that Weinstein Wholesale Meats is committed to producing high-quality and safe food for its customers.
FSIS Food Recalls
According to Newsweek, this news comes a month after a Minnesota-based catering company was compelled to recall frozen beef patties from schools in the state following concerns that they contained wire-like metal.
Weinstein Wholesale Meats is recalling over 2,000 pounds of raw ground beef burger patties that could have been infected with white neoprene.
Neoprene is a synthetic rubber material commonly used in various products, including civil engineering, electronics, and personal protective equipment such as face masks. While neoprene is not considered toxic, it is a polymerized form of chloroprene, which is hazardous and has been classified as a likely carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The FSIS added that it is concerned that some of the contaminated products may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers and is urging consumers who have purchased the affected products to refrain from consuming them. The products in question were shipped to an online distributor, who sold them to customers across the United States.
The FSIS advises customers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the affected products and either discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
As part of its recall process, the FSIS conducts effectiveness checks to ensure that the recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and take the necessary steps to prevent the contaminated products from being available to consumers.
The agency urges consumers to follow food safety guidelines to prevent foodborne illnesses, including cooking raw meat to a safe internal temperature.