Beef recall includes Montana stores

An 8.7-million-pound meat recall reached Montana over the weekend as Walmart and Smith’s stores removed questionable hamburger.

The recall, sparked by the slaughtering of “diseased and unsound animals” at Rancho Feeding Corp. in Petaluma, Calif., involves not just Walmart and Smith’s but nearly 1,000 markets selling everything from hamburger patties to Hot Pockets and hot dogs.

As soon as it became apparent that Walmart suppliers were caught up in the recall, the world’s largest retail grocer began removing questionable merchandise, said Dianna Gee, a Walmart spokeswoman in Bentonville, Ark.

“Walmart is committed to providing our customers with safe and affordable food,” Gee said. “If they feel they have purchased products impacted by this, we urge them to bring the products or receipts to the store for a full refund.”

Specifically, Walmart announced over the weekend that it would recall frozen beef hamburger products, both Fatburger in 2-pound boxes and Great Value frozen hamburger patties in 3-pound bags.

The products are part of a third-party recall by supplier Jensen Meat Co.

Jensen is a consignee of California-based Rancho Feeding Corp.

Smith’s is recalling Kroger Ground Beef patties and ground beef mini sliders.

Nestle also recently announced it was recalling Hot Pocket Philly Steak and Cheese 12-count and two-count packages, as well as Hot Pocket Philly Steak and Cheese Croissant sandwiches.

The Rancho recall also includes 30-pound boxes of the Western bar delicacy known as Rocky Mountain Oysters (or fried, breaded bull testicles).

Word of the recall hadn’t reached Rock Creek Lodge in Clinton, home of the Rocky Mountain Testicle Festival.

The festival takes place in late summer, but oyster chef Sherri Wahl said the lodge does serve the occasional oyster basket.

Wahl said the bar was getting bull testicles from BandR Supply in Missoula, but those needed breading. It just switched to a pre-breaded variety from Slim Pickens packing company in Colorado.

No illnesses associated with the Rancho recall have been reported, though the list of retail consignees has expanded rapidly.

The initial list, issued two weeks ago, included less than two dozen retailers. By Monday, the consignees numbered nearly 1,000.

More information about the recall is available at www.recalls.gov.

Distributed by MCT Information Services