The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the California establishment had been made to recall the ravioli products due to what it described as “misbranding and undeclared allergens”.
The products were also produced without the benefit of federal inspection from the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS).
Family-owned Home Maid Ravioli Company has recalled 12 types of pasta which contain whey, a known allergen, as well as pork which was not declared on the product label.
Offence to public
This is California’s third pork-related recall in a month, after 4,000lb of New York Style Sausages and 23 different types of beef, pork and poultry sausages made by Neto’s were recalled in January.
The USDA said the products had only been shipped to retailers within the state of California. No reported illnesses linked to the consumption of the product had been reported but that might not be the only concern.
If the beef products do contain pork, but the label fails to disclose this, Jewish and Muslim consumers – who do not eat pork for religious reasons – could buy and eat the product under the false assumption that it’s pork-free.
Home Maid Ravioli Company was not available to comment on the product recall.