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Sam's Choice Might Be Wrong Choice: Meat May Be Contaminated With Wood

By Admin on January 08, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Huisken Meat Company, maker of Sam's Choice burgers, has recalled more than 89,500 pounds of its Black Angus Vidalia Onion products, claiming they could be contaminated with wood materials. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall after boxes of the tainted burgers were shipped to retailers nationwide last month.

Now is not the time to wonder how "extraneous wood materials" made their way into your burger. Now is the time to figure out if the burgers you have are contaminated and how to comply with the recall.

Bad Burgers

According to the USDA, the potentially contaminated burgers:

  • Were produced on various dates between November 19th and December 9th, 2015.
  • Came in 2-lb. boxes containing 6 pieces of "Sam's Choice Black Angus Beef Patties with 19 percent Vidalia Onion."
  • Had "Use By" dates of 05/17/2016, 05/29/2016, and 06/06/2016.
  • Had the establishment number "EST. 394A" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

As the USDA warned, "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."

Incoming Ingredient

The USDA also noted that the foreign wood material "originated with an incoming ingredient and was discovered during production." Was it the beef? The Vidalia onion? Perhaps one of the spices? Who knows?

So far, there have been no confirmed reports of people becoming sick from the wood-tainted burgers. But if you've already eaten one and are concerned about an injury or illness, you should contact a healthcare provider.

Physical hazards like the wood described here can cause illness, injury, or pose other health risks to consumers who ingest them. These materials may cause cuts to the mouth, throat, and gums or damage teeth. And hazards can also cause injury to the intestines.

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