California company recalls 8.7 million pounds of beef

Rancho Feeding Corporation, a Petaluma, Calif. company is recalling more than 8.7 million pounds of beef products that were distributed nationwide because it processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit of federal inspection, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products, the release states, but the products "are adulterated, because they are unsound, unwholesome or otherwise are unfit for human food and must be removed from commerce."

The recall items were produced between Jan. 1, 2013 through Jan. 7, 2014 and were shipped to distribution centers and retail establishments nationwide. The Rancho Feeding Corporation products subject to recall include:

• "Beef Carcasses" (wholesale and custom sales only)

• 2 per box "Beef (Market) Heads" (retail only)

• 4-gallons per box "Beef Blood" (wholesale only)

• 20-pound boxes of "Beef Oxtail"

• 30-pound boxes of "Beef Cheeks"

• 30-pound boxes of " Beef Lips"

• 30-pound boxes of "Beef Omasum"

• 30-pound boxes of "Beef Tripas"

• 30-pound boxes of "Mountain Oysters"

• 30-pound boxes of "Sweet Breads"

• 30- and 60 pound boxes of "Beef Liver"

• 30- and 60 pound boxes of "Beef Tripe"

• 30- and 60 pound boxes of "Beef Tongue"

• 30- and 60 pound boxes of "Veal Cuts"

• 40-pound boxes of "Veal Bones"

• 50-pound boxes of "Beef Feet"

• 50-pound boxes of "Beef Hearts"

• 60-pound boxes of "Veal Trim"

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." Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. —