The Recall Desk
Agency classPublic Health AlertOur severity:HighUSDA FSIS·PHA-12292021-01·Announced 2021-12-29

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Imported Meat and Poultry from China

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for imported meat and poultry from China that were not inspected for import. Consumers are advised not to consume these products.

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 products are deemed unfit for human consumption due to import violations and lack of inspection, representing a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported, which aligns with the High severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on December 29, 2021, for an undetermined amount of imported meat and poultry products from China. These products were found to be ineligible for import into the United States because they did not identify an eligible establishment number on their packaging and were not presented to FSIS for import reinspection. A formal recall was not requested because FSIS has been unable to identify and contact the importers.

The investigation, conducted with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), determined that these products are unfit for human consumption. While no meat products from China are generally eligible for import, specific processed chicken and duck products from certified establishments are eligible if raw materials originate from certified sources. The products in question failed to meet these regulatory requirements.

Retailers are urged not to sell the affected products. Consumers who purchased these items should not consume them and should dispose of them properly by double bagging them to reduce the possibility of animals accessing the products. USDA cannot confirm whether the products were properly heated to control pathogens that affect domestic livestock. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

The recalled product

Product
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Imported Meat and Poultry Products from China
Category
Food — Imported Meat and Poultry
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · import violation

See all →

Similar recalls