March 7, 2014

The approximately 8.7 million pounds of meat recalled by Rancho Feeding Corporation and lacking a full federal inspection was believed by the USDA to have been shipped to distribution centres and retail establishments nationwide.

The Class one recall initially stated that the recalled products had been shipped to distribution centres and retail establishments in California, Florida, Illinois and Texas.

More than 6,300 retailers in 36 states and Guam were included in the current list of distributors published by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

FSIS reissued the recall release on February 18, stating that the update is "a consequence of a properly working recall process."

"When the recall release was first issued on February 8, FSIS was unable to ascertain the extent of the establishments involved," the notice reads. "As the establishments were notified, the list of States affected grew."

In the March 5 update, more than 2,300 stores are listed for California, the state with the most retailers. Among the additional "Nationwide, State-Wide, or Area-Wide Distribution" locations in California are 22 chain stores that include 7-11, Family Dollar, Food 4 Less, Rite Aide, Safeway, Walgreens and Winco.

Although Nestlé did not purchase meat directly from Rancho, the company has also recalled some of its Hot Pockets sandwiches because small quantity of meat from Rancho was used at Nestlé's Chatsworth, California production operation.

Beef carcasses and boxes bear the establishment number "EST. 527″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. Each box bears the case code number ending in "3" or "4." The products were produced January 1, 2013, through January 7, 2014, and shipped to distribution centres and retail establishments nationwide.