If you have beef, pork, or goat meat stored in your freezer, this is one recall worth paying attention to.
More than 167,000 pounds of raw meat products have been recalled across the United States after federal officials determined that the products were distributed without undergoing required USDA inspection.
The recall involves a wide range of beef, pork, and goat products produced by Star Meat Delivery Inc.
According to the recall notice, the meat also carried a false USDA inspection mark, which means consumers may have believed the products had passed federal safety oversight when they had not.
The USDA classified the recall as Class I, its most serious recall category.
Here is what consumers need to know.
What Meat Is Being Recalled?
The recall involves approximately 167,639 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat products.
The products were shipped in bulk vacuum-sealed packages under the A&D Foods label and were later distributed to retailers and restaurants nationwide.
Because some products may have been repackaged or sold under different labels at the retail level, consumers may not always see the original A&D Foods packaging.
That is one reason this recall deserves extra attention.
Why Was the Meat Recalled?
This recall is unusual because it was not triggered by a confirmed outbreak of Salmonella, E. coli, or another specific pathogen.
Instead, the issue is that the meat was produced without the benefit of federal inspection.
Federal meat inspection is designed to verify several critical safety factors, including:
- sanitary processing conditions
- proper product handling
- accurate ingredient information
- correct labeling
- inspection for contamination
- compliance with federal meat safety standards
When meat bypasses that process, officials cannot confirm that it met the required safety standards before reaching consumers.
The recalled meat also carried what authorities described as a false USDA mark of inspection.
That is particularly concerning because the USDA inspection mark normally reassures consumers that the product was produced in a federally inspected establishment.
Which Products Are Included?
The recall covers numerous cuts and varieties of meat, including:
- goat cut pieces
- goat with skin
- sliced ribeye
- thin-sliced beef chuck
- beef oxtail
- beef short ribs
- bone-in beef shanks
- ground pork
- pork chorizo
- pork chops
- pork feet
- pork rib pieces
- diced pork shoulder
- sliced pork Boston butt
- menudo mix
- sliced pork hocks
- beef ribs
- beef feet
Package sizes ranged from roughly 10 to 30 pounds, depending on the product.
This suggests that some products may have been intended for restaurants, food-service operations, butchers, or retailers that later divided the meat into smaller consumer packages.
Check for This Establishment Number
The recalled products were associated with the false establishment number:
EST. 1363
If you have bulk or repackaged beef, pork, or goat meat and can identify this number on the packaging, do not eat the product.
Because some retailers may have repackaged the meat, however, not seeing the number does not necessarily prove that a product is unaffected.
Consumers who are uncertain about meat they recently purchased can contact the store where it was bought and ask whether the supplier was connected with the recall.
Why Is This a Class I Recall?
The USDA uses recall classifications to communicate how serious a food safety problem may be.
A Class I recall represents the highest level of concern.
It is generally used when there is a reasonable probability that eating the recalled product could cause serious adverse health consequences.
In this case, the concern comes from the fact that the products did not undergo normal federal inspection, meaning potential hazards may have gone undetected.
These could theoretically include:
- harmful bacteria
- undeclared allergens
- sanitation problems
- incorrect labeling
- contamination
- improper processing conditions
Importantly, this does not mean every package contains something dangerous.
It means federal officials cannot verify that the meat met the safety requirements normally applied before a product enters commerce.
Have Any Illnesses Been Reported?
As of the latest update, no illnesses or injuries had been reported in connection with the recalled meat.
That is reassuring.
But it does not make the recall unnecessary.
Food recalls are often designed to remove potentially unsafe products before illnesses occur.
And because meat can remain frozen for months, some affected products may still be sitting in household, restaurant, or commercial freezers long after the original purchase.
Why Your Freezer Matters
Fresh meat tends to be eaten fairly quickly.
Frozen meat is different.
People may purchase large quantities of:
- ribs
- pork shoulder
- oxtail
- goat
- ground pork
- soup bones
and freeze portions for later use.
That means recalled meat can remain in homes long after retailers have removed affected products from shelves.
If you routinely freeze meat, take a few minutes to check older packages.
Pay particular attention to products that were:
- purchased in bulk
- bought from a butcher or independent market
- repackaged by the retailer
- sold without the manufacturer’s original packaging
What Should You Do If You Have the Recalled Meat?
The USDA’s recommendation is straightforward:
Do not eat it.
Consumers should either:
- throw the affected product away, or
- return it to the place of purchase.
Do not attempt to “make it safe” simply by cooking it longer.
While thorough cooking destroys many foodborne pathogens, this recall involves a broader inspection and regulatory failure.
Without proper inspection, there may be other issues—such as undeclared ingredients or labeling problems—that cooking cannot solve.
What If You Already Ate Some?
There is no indication that everyone who consumed these products will become ill.
In fact, no illnesses had been reported at the time of the recall announcement.
Still, after eating questionable meat, watch for common foodborne illness symptoms such as:
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach cramps
- diarrhea
- fever
- weakness
Symptoms can appear within hours or sometimes several days later, depending on the organism involved.
Severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea, persistent vomiting, high fever, confusion, or significant worsening of symptoms should be taken seriously.
A Reminder About Raw Meat Safety
Regardless of recalls, basic food handling remains one of the simplest ways to reduce foodborne illness.
Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods.
Wash hands after handling raw meat.
Do not wash raw meat in the sink, since splashing water can spread bacteria to countertops and nearby surfaces.
Use separate cutting boards when possible.
Refrigerate or freeze meat promptly.
And cook meat to an appropriate internal temperature using a food thermometer rather than relying only on color.
Food safety is often less about one dramatic action and more about many small habits done consistently.
Don’t Rely on Smell or Appearance
One common mistake is assuming spoiled or contaminated meat will always look or smell “bad.”
It may not.
Many disease-causing bacteria do not noticeably change the smell, color, or texture of food.
A package can appear perfectly normal and still pose a food safety risk.
That is why recall information matters.
If a product is included in an official recall, visual inspection is not enough to determine whether it is safe.
Why This Recall Is Different
Many meat recalls begin after laboratory testing detects a specific pathogen such as Salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli.
This recall is broader.
The concern is that these products entered commerce without the required federal inspection process.
That means officials cannot confidently verify what hazards may or may not have been present.
It also highlights an important principle in food safety:
Inspection isn’t simply a stamp on a package.
It is part of a larger system designed to verify how meat is processed, handled, labeled, and distributed.
The Bottom Line
Approximately 167,639 pounds of raw beef, pork, and goat meat produced by Star Meat Delivery Inc. have been recalled nationwide.
The products were distributed through A&D Foods in Georgia to retailers and restaurants across the country and carried the false establishment number EST. 1363.
The USDA classified the recall as Class I, the agency’s highest-risk category.
No illnesses had been reported as of the latest update, but consumers are being advised not to eat affected products.
If you regularly buy meat in bulk or keep beef, pork, or goat frozen for long periods, now is a good time to check your freezer.
And consider sharing this information with someone who may not have heard about the recall yet.
