Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. Dba Margherita Meats Inc. Recalls Pepperoni Products Due to Possible Bacillus Cereus Contamination
📄 Product Labels (Official)
USDA Recall Notice
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-047-2021.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2021 – Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp., doing business as Margherita Meats, Inc., an Omaha, Neb. establishment, is recalling approximately 10,990 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) pepperoni products that may be adulterated with Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The RTE unsliced pepperoni product was produced and packaged on June 17, 2021. The following products are subject to recall [view label]:
- 8-oz. plastic shrink-wrapped packages containing unsliced pepperoni “Margherita PEPPERONI” with lot code P1931C and a “use by date” of 12-14-21 represented on the label.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 19” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.
The problem was discovered when the Department of Defense notified FSIS that they found B. cereus during routine product testing.
B. cereus is a toxin-producing microorganism that causes diarrhea and vomiting in people. Those with compromised immune systems are at risk for more severe illness. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care including antibiotics are the usual treatment.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries or refrigerators. 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.
Media with questions regarding the recall can contact Jim Monroe, Corporate Affairs, Margherita Meats Corp., at (703) 559-1875. Consumers should call the Margherita Consumer Affairs Hotline at (844) 342-2596.
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/.
Corrective Action (per USDA)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-047-2021.
Return product to place of purchase or discard.
✅ What you should do
- Stop using the product if you own it.
- Check the model number, lot code, or sell-by date against the recall notice above.
- Contact Unknown or the retailer where you bought it for a refund, replacement, or repair.
- For the most current official instructions, visit the USDA recall page.
- If you've been hurt by this product, report the incident to USDA.
Consumer Contact (per USDA)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-047-2021.
Company Contact Margherita Meats Corp. Jim Monroe, Corporate Affairs (703) 559-1875
About the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS)
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service oversees meat, poultry, and processed egg products. Recalls cover contamination, mislabeling, and foodborne hazards.
Visit USDA.gov →📣 Report a food safety issue to USDA FSIS
If you bought or ate this product and got sick — or noticed contamination, foreign objects, or labeling problems — report it to USDA FSIS. Save the product and packaging if possible; investigators may want it for lab testing.
Unknown Recall FAQ
Unknown is the subject of a poultry recall: Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. Dba Margherita Meats Inc. Recalls Pepperoni Products Due to Possible Bacillus Cereus Contamination. The notice was published on December 14, 2021 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA). Approximately 0 units are potentially affected.