Public health alert issued for pork carnitas products

Published 8:26 am Monday, April 21, 2025

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for pork carnitas products that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically pieces of metal. FSIS did not request a recall because this product is no longer available for sale in commerce, noted FSIS in the alert.

The fully cooked pork carnitas products, which were produced from April 1-2, 2025, subject to the public health alert are:

  • 16-oz. sleeved tray packages containing “Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS” with “USE BY” dates “06/30/2025” or “07/01/2025” printed on the side of the packaging.

The products subject to the public health alert bear establishment number “Est. 46049” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to Aldi supermarkets nationwide.

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The problem was discovered when the establishment notified FSIS that during routine process checks they found equipment damage that may have contaminated the carnitas products with pieces of metal, stated the alert.

“There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider,” the alert continued.

“Although this product is no longer available for sale, FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. 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.”

Consumers with questions about the public health alert can contact Cargill’s Consumer Hotline at 1-844-419-1574.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) 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 foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

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