Ontario Firm Recalls Baby Back Ribs Produced Without Import Inspection

Summary

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2014 Skilcor Food Products, an importer of record in Brampton, Ontario, is recalling approximately 36 pounds of fully cooked pork baby back ribs in honey garlic barbeque sauce, because they were not presented at the border for USDA FSIS inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Without the benefit of full inspection, a possibility of adverse health consequences exists. FSIS issues a Public Health Alert for an imported product when the country of origin recalls the product. FSIS issues a recall for an imported product when the product is not presented for inspection at the U.S. border. The following product is subject to recall: 18 pound cases containing 1.5 pound packages of iCobblestone Farms Fully Cooked Pork Baby Back Ribs in Honey Garlic Barbeque Sauce” bearing package code iSell By 2015-AL-08” and case code i15201” The product bears the Canadian mark of inspection with establishment number i624.” The product was distributed to a retailer in New York.. The problem was discovered when FSIS import staff reviewed records and discovered that the independent third party carrier did not present product for USDA inspection at the U.S. Canadian border. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider. A failure-to-present (FTP) occurs when importers fail to present a shipment to FSIS for import inspection prior to the product entering U.S. commerce. Failure-to-present will result in the recall of the product. Presently, FSIS analysts compare Custom and Border Protection Automated Commerce Environment summary data to shipments received in the FSIS Public Health Information System to identify shipments that may not have been presented for inspection at the border. As part of this process, this only occurs after the product has entered U.S. commerce. FSIS is working on solutions to prevent future failure-to-present episodes from occurring, including outreach to industry, foreign food safety agencies and importers. Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact Don Bernier at (905) 501-0111. 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 with food safety questions can iAsk Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov . iAsk Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. 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.

Reason

Produced Without Benefit of Inspection

• 18 pound cases containing 1.5 pound packages of “Cobblestone Farms Fully Cooked Pork Baby Back Ribs in Honey Garlic Barbeque Sauce” bearing package code “Sell By 2015-AL-08” and case code “15201”

Distribution and firm information

Source