FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Beef Meatball Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen
USDA Recall Notice
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-PHA-02252021-01.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert because Whole Foods Market, Inc., sold an undetermined amount of beef meatballs with marinara sauce that were misbranded and were produced with an undeclared allergen. The products contain parmesan cheese made from milk, which is a known allergen, and is not declared on the product label. FSIS is issuing this public health alert out of the utmost of caution to ensure that consumers with allergic reactions to milk are aware that these products should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because it is believed that the affected products are no longer available to be directly purchased by retail consumers.
The beef meatballs with marinara sauce products subject to the public health alert are:
- 24-oz. clear plastic containers of “Whole Foods Market Beef Meatballs with Marinara” with a PLU code of 39496 and sell-by dates through 2/27/21.
This product was sold in retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
The problem was discovered when the firm notified FDA of a customer report of an adverse reaction due to consumption of the product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers with food allergies who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Consumers and members of the media with questions about the public health alert can contact Nathan Cimbala, Global Public Relations, Whole Foods Market, Inc., at nathan.cimbala@wholefoods.com.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) 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/.
Corrective Action (per USDA)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-PHA-02252021-01.
Return product to place of purchase or discard.
✅ What you should do
- Stop using the product if you own it.
- Check the model number, lot code, or sell-by date against the recall notice above.
- Contact Unknown or the retailer where you bought it for a refund, replacement, or repair.
- For the most current official instructions, visit the USDA recall page.
- If you've been hurt by this product, report the incident to USDA.
Consumer Contact (per USDA)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-PHA-02252021-01.
Company Contact Company Contact
About the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS)
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service oversees meat, poultry, and processed egg products. Recalls cover contamination, mislabeling, and foodborne hazards.
Visit USDA.gov →📣 Report a food safety issue to USDA FSIS
If you bought or ate this product and got sick — or noticed contamination, foreign objects, or labeling problems — report it to USDA FSIS. Save the product and packaging if possible; investigators may want it for lab testing.
Unknown Recall FAQ
Unknown is the subject of a beef recall: FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Beef Meatball Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen. The notice was published on February 25, 2021 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA). Approximately 0 units are potentially affected.