Berks Packing Co. Recalls Beef Products Due to Misbranding

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 .