Whole Foods Beef Recalled for Possible Mad Cow Risk

Ribeye roasts distributed to Whole Foods stores in New England may carry risk of mad cow disease, according to a national recall list that has pointed out 4,012 pounds of beef products that may contain specified risk materials (SRMs).

Fruitland American Meat, in Jackson, Missouri, has recalled the beef because branches of the nervous system, called the dorsal root ganglia, may not have been completely removed from the beef.

Dorsal root ganglia are considered SRMs, and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service regulations state they must be removed from cattle 30 months and older. SRMs may contain Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease.

The recalled beef was produced and packaged between September 2013 and April 2014, and bone-in ribeye roasts were sent to a Whole Foods distribution center in Connecticut that serves stores in New England. The roasts were also sent to a restaurant in New York City.

There have been no reports to FSIS and Fruitland American Meat of bad health reactions to these beef products. This is a Class II recall with a low health risk.

A USDA Class II recall means “this is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.”

According to FSIS, the products subject to recall include:

• “40-lb. cases containing two, roughly 20-lb. cryovac packages of bone-in “Rain Crow Ranch Ribeye” bearing the establishment number “EST. 2316” inside the USDA mark of inspection with the following production dates: 9/5/13, 9/10/13, 9/11/13, 9/26/13, 10/2/13, 10/3/2013, 11/8/13, 11/22/13, 12/17/13, 12/26/13, 12/27/13,1/16/14, 1/17/14, 1/23/14, 1/31/14, 2/13/14, 2/14/14, 2/21/14, 2/28/14, 3/8/14, 3/20/14, 4/4/14 or 4/25/14 printed on the box.”

• “Quartered beef carcasses stamped with the USDA mark of inspection and establishment number ‘EST. 2316.’"
  
  

• West Hartford
• Bishops Corner
• Milford
• Danbury

• White Plains
• Port Chester
• Yonkers