Ohanyan's Bastirma and Soujouk, Co. Recalls Sausage Products Due To Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2015 Ohanyans Bastirma & Soujouk Co., a Fresno, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 159,291 pounds of sausage products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains soy lecithin, a known allergen which is not declared on the product label. The following products are subject to recall: [ Labels ] 1-pound cryovac packages of SOUJOUK Dried Beef Sausage Hot & Spicy with plant EST. 5867-A. 1-pound cryovac packages of SOUJOUK Dried Beef Sausage Mild with plant EST. 5867-A. These items were produced on various dates from April 30, 2014, through April 30, 2015. The products bear the establishment number EST. 5867-A inside the USDA mark of inspection and have the sell by date printed on the product label. These items were shipped to distributors, retailers, and consumers nationwide. The problem was discovered when an FSIS inspector was reviewing ingredients on their products and noticed that the establishment applied canola oil spray, a release agent, on the interior of their tubs. FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. 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 and media with questions about the recall can contact Hayik Garabetyan at Ohanyans Bastirma & Soujouk Co. at 1-559-243-0800. 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 .