21 Million Pounds of Meat, Poultry Are Declared Unfit

Federal food inspectors declared unfit for human consumption 21 million pounds of meat and poultry produced by the same Arkansas plant from which 30 million pounds of meat products were recalled three months ago.

The meat, products of Thorn Apple Valley’s Forrest City, Ark., plant, was being housed in warehouses and waiting to be shipped to distributors, officials with the U.S. Agriculture Department’s food safety and inspection service said.

“These products may contain physical, chemical and-or microbiological contaminants that render the product adulterated and not fit for human consumption,” an agency release said. It did not elaborate.

In January, Thorn Apple Valley recalled 30 million pounds of hot dogs and luncheon meats produced at the same Arkansas plant. That recall was because of possible contamination with the listeria bacteria.

USDA officials said an investigation begun after the recall led them to halt the use of all of the remaining product.

Thorn Apple Valley, based in Southfield, Mich., has about 9 million pounds of meat and poultry products on hold in warehouses across the United States. More than 12 million pounds of the products subject to recall have been exported to Russia and South Korea, and USDA officials said the appropriate international officials had been notified of the latest action.

The plant has not produced hot dogs or luncheon meats since Dec. 31, when the government suspended inspection because the plant had not complied with sanitation requirements, USDA officials said.

No illnesses have been reported to health officials from the recalled meat, the USDA said.

The department said consumers should check their refrigerators for products bearing the codes “EST 13529” or “EST P-13529.” Any such products should be returned to the place of purchase.

The recall covered products produced between July and December 1998.

The government’s formal condemnation of the meat was praised by consumer groups as a sign that the USDA is taking tougher action against companies to protect the food supply.