According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), just over a half-million pounds of Kapowsin Pork are contaminated with salmonella. Kapowsin Meats, which is a meat company in Graham, Washington State, has issued a recall of about 523,380 pounds of its pork products that are at high risk of being contaminated with the uncommon strain of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-. The initial recall was announced on August 13th, but since then, intensive testing has revealed Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- in samples of whole hogs, sold for barbeque, as well as numerous other pork products produced at the Kapowsin Meats’ establishment. The FSIS has also noted that the “sanitary improvements” made by Kapowsin Meats were insufficient, and hence the recall is being expanded. At present, due to the high levels of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- and the large number of human illnesses associated with their whole hogs, operations at Kapowsin Meats have been suspended.
The contaminated pork, including whole hogs, were produced between April 18, 2015 and August 26, 2015, indicating a range of 4 months in which the public was exposed to the contaminated meat.
Among the many products in the recall are packaged whole hogs for BBQ and “fabricated pork products” that include pork offal, blood and trim products. Each product should have an establishment number inside the USDA mark of inspection that reads “Est. 1628.” The pork products and whole hogs were widely distributed in Alaska, Oregon and Washington.
In Alaska, the products were distributed to: Mikes Quality Meats; McNeil Canyon Meats; Super Bear; Echo Lake Superior Meats; and Mat Valley Meat.
In Oregon, the products were distributed to: New Season and Stroheckers – Lamb’s Markets.
In Washington State, the products were distributed to: Green Valley Meats; Proper British; Sweeney Inc.; B & E Meats; Richaert Meats; Seven Generations; B & E Meats; Olson’s Meats; Evergreen Asian; Fisher’s Meat Market; Hong Kong Market Kent; Linds; Link Artisan Meats; Lew’s Wholesale Meats; Double DD Meats; Andals; Nile Valley Game; B & E Meats; Michael’s Meats & Seafood; Farmer Goerge; Port Roberts Market Place; Key City Fish Co.; Beef Outlet- Butcher Boys; Blue Max; Uwajimaya; Shawn & Ted’s Quality Meat Mkt; BB Ranch; Better Meats; Bob’s Quality Meats (currently out-of-business); Delight Bakery; Nicky USA; Seattle Super Market; Uwajimaya; B & E Meats; Quality Food Centers; Don & Joe’s Market; Meat The Live Butcher; New Seasons Raleigh Hills; Rain Shadow Meats; The Swinery; Smokin’ Pete’s; Quality Food Centers; Home Meats; Town & Country Markets, Inc.; Kelso’s Custom Meats; Del Fox Meats; Silvana Meats; Dave’s Meat & Produce; East Asia; Hong Kong Tacoma; Western Meats; and Stewarts Meats
FSIS Investigation: Half-Million Pounds Kapowsin Pork are Contaminated with Salmonella
The investigation by FSIS began on July 15, 2015 when the Washington State Department of Health (WSDH) notified them of an ongoing outbreak linked to Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-. The FSIS joined the WSHD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and soon determined the victims evinced a very high exposure to roasted pork – or whole hogs. At least three dozen victims had reported eating whole hogs at a barbeque or pork products before becoming ill. By late August, this number was increased to 152.
For more information or to speak to a Salmonella lawyer about filing a Kapowsin Lawsuit, call 1-888-335-4901.
