March 19, 2013

US-based Ben-Lee recalls pork products produced without HACCP plan

Ben-Lee Processing, Inc., based in Atwood, Kansas in the United States, recalled an undetermined amount of ready-to-eat and heat-treated bacon and ham products that were produced without a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The problem was discovered by the Kansas State Department of Agriculture in conjunction with FSIS. Some fully cooked products were given the mark of inspection, but the company does not have a HACCP plan for fully cooked product. Further investigation revealed that other Ready-To-Eat or heat-treated products were produced without HACCP plans.

Various weight packages of cured pork products, including country style bacon, sliced bacon, ham, sliced ham, and summer sausages were recalled. The recalled products bear the establishment number "Est. 2366" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced prior to March 14, 2013, and were distributed in northwest Kansas for further distribution.