Safety First: Illegally Imported Food Triggers Public Health Alert in Nine States

According to News Week, The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert regarding meat, fish, and poultry products that were illegally imported into the United States from Myanmar. This alert follows the discovery of various contaminated food items being sold across nine states.

Details of the Public Health Alert

On Thursday, the FSIS announced that six cans and one vacuum-sealed package of various food products, including meat, poultry, curry pastes, dried fish, and duck blood, were being sold in American retail stores. Myanmar is not eligible to export meat or dairy products into the U.S., prompting an ongoing investigation into how these items entered the country.

Products Involved

The affected products do not carry an establishment number or a USDA mark of inspection. The items include:

Canned goods under the brand name BEST:

• • Beef curry (180g)
  • Chicken biryani (425g)
  • Myanmar duck blood (425g)

Canned pastes:

• • Hti Mi Gwik Dry MoHinGa paste (contains catfish)
  • Eain Chak MoHinGa paste (contains catfish)
  • Eain Chak Coconut Soup paste (contains chicken)

Dried fish:

• • Min Thar Gyi Dried Fish

These products were found in retail locations across Arizona, California, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

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Consumer Advisory

The FSIS strongly advises consumers not to consume any of these products. Instead, they should either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Retailers who may have acquired these products are also urged not to sell them. Although there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions linked to these products, anyone concerned about potential illness is advised to contact a healthcare provider.

Additional Information

Consumers with food safety questions can reach the Department of Agriculture’s toll-free Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send inquiries via email to MPHotline@usda.gov.

Previous Incidents

This is not the first time this year that the FSIS has issued a public health alert for illegally imported products from Myanmar. In August, a similar alert was issued for 17 meat and poultry products, primarily curry-related, that were sold under the brand name Grandma. These items included various fish and curry dishes, raising ongoing concerns about food safety and regulation.

Context of Recent Alerts

This public health alert comes on the heels of a mass food poisoning outbreak linked to McDonald’s, as well as recalls related to that outbreak and the recent recall of taco kits due to possible bacterial contamination. The ongoing vigilance by health authorities underscores the importance of food safety and consumer awareness regarding imported food products.