Chinese hot pot products not eligible for export to USA are recalled

South El Monte, CA-based BC Food LA, LLC, doing business as B & C Food Co., has recalled more than 1,600 pounds of Chinese-style hot pot base products containing beef tallow. The products were imported from the People’s Republic of China, a country ineligible to export beef to the United States, according to USDA’S Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

There is concern that some products may be in consumers’ homes. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them, according to a recall notice from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

The Chinese-style hot pot base products were imported on or around June 24, 2020. The following products are subject to recall:

10.5-oz. (300 g) Plastic vacuum wrapped packages containing a “Lee’s 52° Da Zhuang” Hot Pot Base and a best before the date of 10/12/2021 on the label.
10.5-oz. (300 g) Plastic vacuum wrapped packages containing a “Lee’s 45° Da Zhuang” Hot Pot Base and a best before the date of 10/12/2021 on the label.
10.5-oz. (300 g) Plastic vacuum wrapped packages containing a “Lee’s 36° Da Zhuang” Hot Pot Base and a best before the date of 10/12/2021 on the label.

The product labels are written in Chinese. Refer to the label link here for additional product information. The products do not bear an establishment number nor a USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in California, Nevada, and Oklahoma.

This entry scheme was discovered when FSIS received an anonymous report of ineligible beef tallow products imported from China.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions because of the consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

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 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/.

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