Texas Natural Meats is recalling about 116 pounds of beef tongue products that may be contaminated with specified risk materials (SRMs). Specified risk materials are tissues in cattle that are high risk for prion contamination. Prions are thought to cause diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which are illnesses of the brain. Mad cow disease, or BSE is the brain disease that affects cattle.
SRMs must be removed from all cattle that are presented for slaughter in this country. Tonsils are considered SRMs from cattle of any age. Other SRMs for older cattle are the skull, brain, eyes, spinal corn, vertebral column, and dorsal root ganglia. The recall notice does not specify which SRMs may have contaminated this recalled product.
The raw intact beef tongue items were produced on dates ranging from April 1, 2016 to November 11, 2017. The product is 1.72-cryvac packages of frozen “Beef Tongue.” These products have the establishment number “EST. 34449” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to product owners and further distributed in the state of Texas.
The problem was discovered on November 15, 2017 by FSIS while inspectors conducted verification activities. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products.
If you bought this product, do not eat it. Throw it away in a sealed container and put that package inside a secure garbage can. Or you can take the product back to the store where you bought it for a full refund.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854. You can also use the Ask Karen app on your smartphone.
