The Recall Desk
HighUSDA FSIS·PHA-03012026-01·Announced 2026-03-01

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Punahele Beef Jerky Due to Undeclared Soy

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for Punahele beef jerky products containing undeclared soy lecithin. Consumers are advised not to consume the items.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves allergen mislabeling on a common allergen (soy) without reported illness, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a High severity score.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for specific ready-to-eat beef jerky products manufactured by Punahele Jerky Company, Inc. The alert was issued because the products may contain soy lecithin, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product labels. This constitutes misbranding and an undeclared allergen issue.

The affected products include 6-oz. packages of "DRIED HAWAIIAN STYLE BEEF CRISPS, ORIGINAL SALT & PEPPER FLAVOR" (EST. 2625), 4-oz. packages of "PUNAHELE JERKY COMPANY INC UNCLE K'S BEEF CRISPS", and 4-oz. packages of "PUNAHELE JERKY COMPANY INC KILAUEA FIRE SPICY BEEF CRISPS". These items bear best by dates of February 17, 2027, or prior. The products were distributed to retail stores in Hawaii and sold via online sales nationwide. The issue was identified during a routine FSIS label review.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. However, FSIS is concerned that some product may still be in consumers' pantries. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a health care provider.

The recalled product

Product
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-To-Eat Beef Jerky Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen
Brand
Punahele Jerky Company, Inc.

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.