In a recent food safety recall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has alerted consumers to the recall of nearly 150,000 pounds of bologna produced by Gaiser’s European Style Provisions.
The recall stems from the discovery that several types of bologna contained undeclared meats, including pork, beef, and chicken, which were not listed on the product labels. The issue was flagged after a complaint was filed about the mislabeling, prompting an investigation by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
While there have been no reports of adverse health effects, the situation is being classified as a “Class III” recall, which indicates that the recalled products are not expected to cause significant harm to consumers, though their consumption still violates labelling standards.
What Was Found in the Bologna?
The recall involves seven varieties of bologna that were sold nationwide. According to the USDA, these products may contain meats such as pork, beef, or chicken that were not disclosed on the labels.
The FSIS began its investigation following consumer complaints about the meat content, and the findings confirmed the presence of undeclared meats in some of the products. This oversight is considered a misbranding violation, which can confuse consumers, especially those with dietary restrictions, allergies, or religious concerns.
The recall affects approximately 143,416 pounds of bologna produced by Gaiser’s between March 20 and June 20. The affected products include several different types of bologna, ranging from chicken to veal to turkey, with specific varieties containing pork or beef that were not indicated on the packaging.
Impact and What Consumers Should Do
The USDA urges consumers to carefully check their bologna products, particularly those marked with the establishment number “EST. 5385” inside the USDA inspection mark. These products were sold to retail and wholesale locations nationwide, but the FSIS has not identified specific stores involved in the distribution.
Affected products were sold in vacuum-packed or plastic-wrapped packages under various brand names, including:
- Vacuum-packed packages of Family Tree Bologna Veal, containing undeclared pork.
- Plastic-wrapped packages of Babushka’s Recipe Chicken Bologna, containing undeclared pork.
- Plastic-wrapped packages of Fancy Bologna, labelled with pork as an ingredient but containing undeclared beef and chicken.
- Vacuum-packed packages of Gaiser’s Russian Brand Doktorskaya Bologna, containing undeclared beef.
- Plastic-wrapped packages of Gaiser’s Bologna Veal, containing undeclared chicken and pork.
- Plastic-wrapped packages of Gaiser’s Turkey Bologna, containing undeclared chicken and pork.
- Plastic-wrapped packages of Chicken Bologna Kypoyka Paba, containing undeclared pork.
Even though the recall is classified as low risk, the FSIS is advising both consumers and restaurants to dispose of the affected products or return them to the point of purchase. For any further questions regarding the recall, consumers are encouraged to contact the company directly.
