Tucson Tamale Wholesale Company is recalling approximately 915 pounds of beef tamales products that contain meat approved by the USDA. The meat is perfectly fine, but the federal agency demanded the recall.
The ready-to-eat beef tamale items were produced on various dates from Aug. 11, 2016 to Sept. 13, 2016.
The company issued the followig statement:
In August our production facility became a Federally Inspected Facility under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). We think these regulations are important for public health, and there is a federal inspector on site everyday at the production facility.
It was discovered that the beef we were buying is from a vendor that is regulated by the State of Arizona and not the USDA. The USDA requires all beef used in a USDA-approved production facility be purchased from a USDA inspected facility. It should be noted that the vendor we were buying our beef from is one of the top meat vendors in the state and is inspected by the State of Arizona. This vendor supplies hundreds of restaurants in the state.
As a Federally Inspected Facility under the USDA, we are unable to use the meat from the state-regulated facility as the USDA does not recognize the state’s practices.
We do not agree with the USDA’s position to recall the beef, but we can not change their decision. We maintain that these tamales are safe, however any customers wishing to return beef tamales are welcome to do so at any of our three restaurant locations, and will be issued a full refund.
The health and safety of our customers and employees is of our highest concern, and we don’t take for granted the opportunity to serve you. We thank you for your business.
The following products are subject to recall:
Bulk boxes containing 10- or 11-oz packages of two “Tucson Tamale Red Chile Beef Tamales,” with packaging dates of 8/11/2016, 8/15/2016, 8/22/2016, 8/31/2016 and 9/13/2016, and with case and package codes 2016224, 2016228, 2016235, 2016244 and 2016257. Bulk boxes containing 10- or 11-oz packages of two “Tucson Tamale Chipotle Beef Tamales,” with packaging dates of 8/16/2016, 9/1/2016 and 9/2/2016, and with case and package codes 2016229, 2016245 and 2016246.
Bulk boxes containing 10- or 11-oz packages of two “Tucson Tamale Chipotle Beef & Cheese Tamales,” with packaging dates of 8/16/2016, 8/25/2016, 8/29/2016 and 9/2/2016, and with case and package codes 2016229, 2016238, 2016242 and 2016246.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. M45860” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were distributed to the firm’s restaurants in Arizona. These items were sold to consumers either in restaurants (without packaging), in foil “to-go” containers or with the original packaging intact.