What's Happening?
A South Dakota company, LSI, Inc., has issued a recall of over 2.2 million pounds of Korean barbecue pork jerky sold at Costco and Sam's Club stores. The recall was initiated after customers reported finding
pieces of wiry metal in the jerky, which were traced back to a conveyor belt used in the production process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the recall, which affects 14.5-ounce and 16-ounce packages of the product labeled as 'Golden Island fire-grilled pork jerky Korean barbecue recipe.' The affected products have best-by dates ranging from October 23, 2025, to September 23, 2026, and contain the establishment number M279A inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Why It's Important?
This recall highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring food safety and the potential risks posed by foreign object contamination in food products. The presence of metal in food can pose serious health risks to consumers, including injury or choking hazards. The recall affects a significant quantity of product, which could lead to financial losses for the company and inconvenience for consumers who purchased the affected jerky. It also underscores the importance of robust quality control measures in food production to prevent contamination and protect public health.
What's Next?
Consumers who have purchased the recalled jerky are advised not to consume it and to either dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. The company and the USDA will likely continue to investigate the source of the contamination and implement corrective actions to prevent future occurrences. This incident may prompt increased scrutiny of food safety practices within the company and potentially lead to regulatory changes to enhance food safety standards.
