Beef Alert map shows affected states

A product warning is currently in effect in nine states after corned beef and chicken spreads were found to have been illegally imported from the Philippines, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said.

The warning was issued in the following states where the products were delivered to restaurants and retail stores: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.

The FSIS has provided images of the affected products. There is no indication on the packaging that they were made in the Philippines, and some products bear an Argentine trademark.

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A Newsweek The map shows exactly where these recalls have occurred so that consumers can safely avoid the risks.

As previously reported by NewsweekThe alert urges retailers not to sell the items and asks consumers to carefully double-bag and dispose of the items due to potential pathogen risks.

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On Wednesday, the FSIS issued the alert after discovering meat and poultry products from the Philippines during routine surveillance activities at a retail store.

The Philippines is not authorized to export meat and poultry products to the United States. FSIS said it continues to investigate how these products entered the country.

The warning said there were no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from taking the products and that anyone who suspects they may be suffering from an illness should contact a doctor.

A health warning applies to the following products regardless of the product date:

• 150 gram can of “Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF”.
• 175 gram can of “Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF”.
• 260 gram can of “Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF”.
• 150 gram can of “PUREFOODS CORNED BEEF”.
• 210 gram can of “PUREFOODS CORNED BEEF”.
• 150 gram can of “CHUNKEE CORNED BEEF”.
• 190 gram can of “CHUNKEE CORNED BEEF”.
• 7.43-ounce jar of Lady’s Choice Chicken Spread.

The product brands are owned by three companies in the Philippines: Century Pacific Food Inc., which owns the Argentina brand, San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc., which owns the Purefoods and Chunkee brands, and Unilever Philippines, which owns Lady’s Choice.

Newsweek has emailed Century Pacific Food, San Miguel Food and Beverage and Unilever Philippines for comment.

There have been several other meat-related warnings and recalls in recent months. In June, a meat importer recalled more than 20,000 pounds of beef products that had not been inspected upon entry into the United States. Publix Super Markets also recently issued a voluntary recall of some ground beef products.