Home/Recalls/FSIS-033-2022
USDA FSISClass I

Empanadas Valrico Inc. Recalls Beef and Chicken Empanada Products Produced Witho...

Published: September 23, 2022Recall ID: 033-2022Category: foodCountry: US

Reason for Recall / Hazard

Produced Without Benefit of Inspection

Product Description & Identification

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2022 – Empanadas Valrico Inc., a Sarasota, Fla. establishment, is recalling approximately 6,247 pounds of beef and chicken empanada products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The frozen beef and chicken empanada items were produced and distributed into commerce from March 2022 to September 2022. The following products are subject to recall [ view labels ]: Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023. Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023. Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023. Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023. The products subject to recall do not bear the USDA mark of inspection because Empanadas Valrico Inc. is not a federally inspected establishment. These items were shipped to retail locations in Florida. The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Florida Department of Agriculture that the frozen empanada products did not have the USDA mark of inspection and were produced in an establishment that was not inspected by USDA. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. 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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls . Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Alfonso Bejarano, owner, Empanadas Valrico at (813) 408-0884 or empanadasvalrico@gmail.com. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov . For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/ .

Affected Products

• Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023., • Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023., • Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023., • Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.

Additional Source Details

FieldValue
LangcodeEnglish
Field year2022
Field titleEmpanadas Valrico Inc. Recalls Beef and Chicken Empanada Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
Field labelsRecall-033-2022
Field summary<p>WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2022 – Empanadas Valrico Inc., a Sarasota, Fla. establishment, is recalling approximately 6,247 pounds of beef and chicken empanada products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.</p> <p>The frozen beef and chicken empanada items were produced and distributed into commerce from March 2022 to September 2022. The following products are subject to recall [<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2022-09/Recall%20033-2022%20Labels.pdf">view labels</a>]:</p> <ul> <li>Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.</li> <li>Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.</li> <li>Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.</li> <li>Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.</li> </ul> <p>The products subject to recall do not bear the USDA mark of inspection because Empanadas Valrico Inc. is not a federally inspected establishment. These items were shipped to retail locations in Florida. </p> <p>The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Florida Department of Agriculture that the frozen empanada products did not have the USDA mark of inspection and were produced in an establishment that was not inspected by USDA.</p> <p>There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. </p> <p>FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. 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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at <a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls">www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls</a>.</p> <p>Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Alfonso Bejarano, owner, Empanadas Valrico at (813) 408-0884 or empanadasvalrico@gmail.com.</p> <p>Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via <a href="https://ask.fsis.usda.gov/">Ask USDA</a> from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at <a href="https://ask.fsis.usda.gov/">Ask USDA</a> or send a question via email to <a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at <a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>.</p>
Field processingHeat Treated - Not Fully Cooked - Not Shelf Stable
Field recall urlhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/empanadas-valrico-inc--recalls-beef-and-chicken-empanada-products-produced-without
Field risk levelHigh - Class I
Field closed year2022
Field distro listrc-033-2022-Retail-Distribution-List.pdf
Field has spanishFalse
Field recall date2022-09-23
Field recall typeClosed Recall
Field active noticeFalse
Field media contactMeredith Carothers
Field product items › 1• Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.
Field product items › 2• Approximately 1.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 10 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.
Field product items › 3• Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico STEAK EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.
Field product items › 4• Approximately 4.6-lb. clear plastic bag packages containing 25 pieces of “Empanadas Valrico CHICKEN EMPANADAS” with “BEST BEFORE” dates prior to January 30, 2023.
Field qty recovered393 pounds
Field recall number033-2022
Field recall reasonProduced Without Benefit of Inspection
Field archive recallTrue
Field last modified date2022-09-23
Field related to outbreakFalse
Field recall number export033-2022
Field company media contact Company Contact Company Contact Alfonso Bejarano (813) 408-0884 empanadasvalrico@gmail.com
Field recall classificationClass I

Overview

  • StatusTrue
  • Risk LevelClass I
Official Agency Alert