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Food FSIS Class II Completed Mislabeling

Joseph Epstein Food Enterprises, Inc. Recalls Gluten-Free Turkey Meatball Products Due to Misbranding

Joseph Epstein Foods Inc. Published Oct 30, 2015

Risk level

Class II

May cause a temporary or reversible health problem; slight chance of serious harm.

Severity score 45/100

What should you do?

  • Check whether you have this product, using the lot codes, UPCs, and dates listed below.
  • Do not eat, serve, or sell the affected product.
  • Return it to the place of purchase for a refund, or throw it away in a sealed bag so people and animals can’t get to it.
  • Contact Joseph Epstein Foods Inc. or your place of purchase with questions, and see the source record below for full details.
Reason for recall

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2015 Joseph Epstein Food Enterprises, Inc., an East Rutherford, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 190 pounds of turkey meatball products due to misbranding, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The label declares the product as gluten-free, a false negative claim. The Mama Mancinis gluten-free turkey meatball items were produced on Oct. 19, 2015. The following products are subject to recall: [ View Labels ] 22-oz. cartons of Mama Mancinis Slow Cooked Italian Style Sauce and Turkey Meatballs Gluten Free. The products subject to recall bear establishment number P-21734 inside the USDA mark of inspection, product code 4740 and expiration date Use by 12/10/15. These items were shipped to retail locations in New Jersey. The problem was discovered during the establishments third party laboratory testing; the product was found to contain an excess of the maximum allowable 20 ppm of gluten. The establishment notified FSIS of the problem. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to 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. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls . Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Mr. Matt Brown, President, at (917) 705-7514. Media with questions about the recall can contact Mr. Carl Wolf at (973) 985-0280. 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 . Product Labels

Hazards

Gluten · primary

Affected products (0)

Affected areas

New Jersey

Timeline

  1. Initiated
    Oct 30, 2015
  2. Published
    Oct 30, 2015
Recall number
134-2015
Agency
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Country
US