Home/Recalls/FSIS-011-2016
USDA FSISClass II

Berks Packing Co. Recalls Beef Products Due to Misbranding

Published: January 25, 2016Recall ID: 011-2016Category: foodCountry: US

Reason for Recall / Hazard

Misbranding

Product Description & Identification

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2016 Berks Packing Co., a Reading, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,320 pounds of beef products that may be misbranded, and may contain pork and erythorbate, an additive, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The beef knockwurst links were produced on Nov. 12, 2015. The following products are subject to recall: [ View Labels (PDF Only)] 1-lb. (plastic shrink wrapped) packages containing links of BERKS Heat & Serve Knockwurst. The packages have a sell by date of March 11, 2016 printed on the package. The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 8782 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, and Delaware. The problem was discovered by company personnel who learned of the incorrect labels being applied to the product and notified FSIS inspectors. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. FSIS has received no additional reports of injury or illness from consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Lynn Farrell, Quality Control Manager, at (610) 376-7291. Media with questions about the recall can contact John Buckley, Director of Operations, at (610) 376-7291. Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov . 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 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem .

Affected Products

•1-lb. (plastic shrink wrapped) packages containing links of BERKS Heat & Serve Knockwurst. The packages have a sell by date of March 11, 2016 printed on the package.

Additional Source Details

FieldValue
LangcodeEnglish
Field year2016
Field titleBerks Packing Co. Recalls Beef Products Due to Misbranding
Field labels011-2016-labels
Field states › 1Delaware
Field states › 2Maryland
Field states › 3New Jersey
Field states › 4New York
Field states › 5Pennsylvania
Field states › 6Virginia
Field states › 7West Virginia
Field summary<p><strong>WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2016 </strong> Berks Packing Co., a Reading, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,320 pounds of beef products that may be misbranded, and may contain pork and erythorbate, an additive, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.</p> <p>The beef knockwurst links were produced on Nov. 12, 2015. The following products are subject to recall: [<a href="/sites/default/files/import/011-2016-labels.pdf">View Labels</a> (PDF Only)]</p> <ul type="disc"> <li>1-lb. (plastic shrink wrapped) packages containing links of BERKS Heat & Serve Knockwurst. The packages have a sell by date of March 11, 2016 printed on the package.</li> </ul> <p>The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 8782 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, and Delaware.</p> <p>The problem was discovered by company personnel who learned of the incorrect labels being applied to the product and notified FSIS inspectors.</p> <p>There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. FSIS has received no additional reports of injury or illness from consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.</p> <p>Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.</p> <p>FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their<strong> </strong>customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.</p> <p>Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Lynn Farrell, Quality Control Manager, at (610) 376-7291. Media with questions about the recall can contact John Buckley, Director of Operations, at (610) 376-7291.</p> <p>Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at <a href="http://AskKaren.gov">AskKaren.gov</a> or via smartphone at <a href="http://m.AskKaren.gov">m.askkaren.gov</a>. 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 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: <a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem">http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem</a>.</p>
Field processingFully Cooked - Not Shelf Stable
Field recall urlhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/berks-packing-co.-recalls-beef-products-due-misbranding
Field risk levelLow - Class II
Field closed year2016
Field has spanishFalse
Field recall date2016-01-25
Field recall typeClosed Recall
Field active noticeFalse
Field establishmentBerks Packing Co., Inc.
Field media contactBenjamin Bell
Field product items•1-lb. (plastic shrink wrapped) packages containing links of BERKS Heat & Serve Knockwurst. The packages have a sell by date of March 11, 2016 printed on the package.
Field qty recovered233 pounds
Field recall number011-2016
Field recall reasonMisbranding
Field archive recallTrue
Field last modified date2020-09-01
Field related to outbreakFalse
Field recall number export011-2016
Field recall classificationClass II

Overview

  • Recalling FirmBerks Packing Co., Inc.
  • StatusTrue
  • Risk LevelClass II
  • DistributionDelaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Official Agency Alert