The Recall Desk
Agency classPublic Health AlertOur severity:HighUSDA FSIS·PHA-07022025-01·Announced 2025-07-02

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Riverbend Ranch Beef Sticks Due to Plastic

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for Riverbend Ranch beef sticks due to possible plastic contamination. No injuries have been reported.

The agency’s classification

USDA FSIS: Public Health Alert

Public Health Alert is a warning FSIS issues when there is a food-safety concern but a recall is not requested, typically because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

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 a risk-of-harm product (foreign material contamination) where injury has not yet been reported, which aligns with the 'High' severity criteria in the rubric.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for ready-to-eat beef jerky stick products manufactured by Top Notch Jerky LLC. The alert concerns the potential presence of extraneous materials, specifically transparent pieces of plastic, in the products. The affected items are 6.9 oz. bags containing six 1.15-oz. vacuum-sealed packages of "RIVERBEND RANCH Original Beef Stick" and "RIVERBEND RANCH Jalapeño Beef Stick," both with a "Best By" date of 11/27/2026. These products bear "EST. 47282" on the back of the label and were produced on May 27, 2025.

The issue was identified after the firm received consumer complaints regarding the presence of plastic in the beef sticks. The products were distributed online and to locations nationwide, including Puerto Rico. FSIS did not request a formal recall because the affected products are no longer available for purchase, though some may remain in consumers' pantries. There have been no confirmed reports of injury or illness associated with the consumption of these products.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider. For questions, consumers can contact Top Notch Jerky, LLC at 208-372-3231 or [email protected], or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854.

The recalled product

Product
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-to-eat Beef Jerky Stick Products Due to Possible Extraneous Material Contamination
Brand
Top Notch Jerky LLC
Manufacturer
Top Notch Jerky LLC
Category
Food — Beef Jerky
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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