USDA Issues Alert for Uninspected Beef and Pork Products

Blackwing Organic Meats and Blackwing Meats brands may contain undeclared allergens or contaminants

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:03am

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A translucent X-ray photograph revealing the internal structure of a raw meat product as glowing, ghostly lines against a dark background, conceptually illustrating the hidden dangers of uninspected food.An X-ray view of uninspected meat products highlights the potential health risks of bypassing federal food safety regulations.NYC Today

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for a range of raw beef and pork products that were produced without federal inspection. The affected items, sold under the Blackwing Organic Meats and Blackwing Meats brands, may include a false USDA mark of inspection and pose potential health risks to consumers.

Why it matters

Meat and poultry products that bypass federal inspection can contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants, putting consumers at risk. This alert aims to prevent any illnesses or injuries linked to the consumption of these uninspected products.

The details

The alert involves several items such as vacuum-packed beef products like New York strip steaks, ground beef, stew meat, and steak strips, as well as pork products like ground pork and boneless center-cut pork chops. The products were shipped to wholesale and retail locations nationwide between April 2024 and March 2026. Some items improperly display the establishment number 'EST. 1996' inside a USDA inspection mark, which was used without authorization, while others were distributed without any inspection mark at all.

  • The affected products were manufactured between April 2024 and March 2026.
  • The issue was uncovered during an ongoing investigation by FSIS, which remains active.

The players

Blackwing Organic Meats

A brand that produced the uninspected raw beef and pork products.

Blackwing Meats

A brand that produced the uninspected raw beef and pork products.

U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

The federal agency that issued the public health alert for the uninspected products.

Roger Gerber

The president of Blackwing Meats, who can be contacted for more information.

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What’s next

The agency is urging consumers not to consume any of the affected products and to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions can contact Blackwing Meats President Roger Gerber or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline.

The takeaway

This public health alert highlights the importance of federal inspection for meat and poultry products to ensure food safety and prevent potential health risks to consumers. It also underscores the need for proper labeling and authorization of USDA inspection marks to maintain transparency and trust in the food supply.