GA Company Recalled Canned Beef with Gravy Products After State Lab Finds Unsafe Levels of Lead in Spice Mix

Crider Foods, a Stillmore, Ga., establishment, is recalling approximately 525,717 pounds of canned beef with gravy products that may be contaminated with unsafe levels of lead, due to a spice mix used from an outside supplier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  The problem was discovered during routine surveillance sampling conducted by a state partner. In-plant verification activities conducted by Crider Foods in conjunction with FSIS found that a spice mix used from an outside source contained unsafe levels of lead.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

The specific spice is not listed, however spices originate from all over the world, including areas with lead issues in the soil.  From a 2018 CDC Report:

Lead can contaminate spices during many points in the global supply chain. Spices are often grown in countries polluted by leaded gasoline, smelters, battery manufacturing plants, and mines. Lead is deposited in soil and water from airborne pollutants and fertilizer application. Lead dust from grinding machinery can also contaminate spices (3). Spices might also be adulterated deliberately with lead to enhance color or increase weight.† Because >95% of spices consumed in the United States are imported,§ recommendations to purchase only locally grown spices are impractical. According to the World Health Organization Codex Standard 193–1995, the permissible limit of lead for infant formula is 0.02 mg/kg lead and for salt is 2 mg/kg. No U.S. permissible limit for lead in spices exists; however, the FDA limit for lead in natural-source food color additives (e.g., paprika, saffron, and turmeric) is 10 mg/kg. The FDA action levels (i.e., the levels at which an investigation is undertaken, or a recall is issued, depending upon the circumstances and findings) for products intended for consumption by children are 0.1 mg/kg for candy and 0.5 mg/kg for other foods¶; however, spices are not considered food intended for consumption by children. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates of consumption from the What We Eat in America survey are low for many of the spices in question (e.g., 0.09 g/day of cumin, 0.03 g/day of turmeric) (4); however, spice consumption might differ for children whose parents emigrated from Southeast Asia (e.g., estimated consumption: 1.22 ± 1.14 g per portion of cumin in dishes prepared daily; 0.60 ± 0.46 g per portion of turmeric in dishes prepared daily), where spices are used in cooking, home remedies, and ceremonial activities (5). Use of spices, herbal remedies, and alternative medicines also are increasingly popular among other U.S. residents; spice imports into the United States have increased by approximately 50% since 1998 (6). However, their regulation is complicated by Internet sales, international travel, and importation by relatives and friends (7).

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/crider-foods-recalls-canned-beef-gravy-products-due-possible-unsafe-levels-lead
Crider Foods Recalls Canned Beef With Gravy Products Due to Possible Unsafe Levels of Lead From Outside Source

FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2021 – Crider Foods, a Stillmore, Ga., establishment, is recalling approximately 525,717 pounds of canned beef with gravy products that may be contaminated with unsafe levels of lead, due to a spice mix used from an outside supplier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The canned beef with gravy product items were produced on October 22, 2020 and March 15, 2021 production dates. The following products are subject to recall [view the labels here]:
12-oz. cans of “Hargis House ROAST BEEF AND GRAVY” with best buy dates of 10/22/2022 and 3/15/2023.
12-oz. cans of “Clover Valley FULLY COOKED ROAST BEEF WITH GRAVY” with best buy dates f 10/22/2022 and 3/15/2023.
12-oz. cans of “Kroger ROAST BEEF WITH GRAVY” with best buy dates of 10/22/2022 and 3/15/2023.
12-oz. cans of “Hostess ROAST BEEF WITH GRAVY” with best buy dates of 10/22/2022 and 3/15/2023.
12-oz. cans of “Laura Lynn roast beef WITH GRAVY” with best buy dates of 10/22/2022 and 3/15/2023.
12-oz. cans of “ARMOUR Roast Beef WITH GRAVY” with best buy dates of 10/22/2022 and 3/15/2023.
12-oz. cans of “HARVEST CREEK Roast Beef with Gravy” with best buy dates of 10/22/2022 and 3/15/2023.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 31812” on the can. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered during routine surveillance sampling conducted by a state partner. In-plant verification activities conducted by Crider Foods in conjunction with FSIS found that a spice mix used from an outside source contained unsafe levels of lead.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Mark Howell, President of Crider Inc., at mhowell@criderinc.com or (912) 536-1424. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Aaron Schoeneberger, Crider Inc., Director of Marketing at aschoeneberger@criderinc.com or (912) 562-9142.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.