California-based banh mi chain Lee's Sandwiches is recalling about 213,000 pounds of meat, the USDA said in a press release last week. The recalls come after the discovery that the company labeled chicken, beef, and pork products with an "unauthorized" USDA inspection mark. The Department's Food and Safety Inspection Service writes Lee's "has been processing products from federally inspected establishments and re-packaging them without the benefit of inspection."
The beef, pork, chicken, and turkey products were sent to "locations in Arizona," presumably to the only Lee's Sandwiches location in the state, which is in Chandler on Warner Road. We're waiting on comment from a manager of that store but in a corporate press release, the company says, "the leadership of LQNN is confident that the products being recalled all meet the food safety standards of the company and were manufactured using ingredients and processes that meet the requirements of the FDA."
The problem was discovered during a surveillance review and the affected meat was manufactured between May 18 of last year and this year. The USDA hasn't gotten any reports of "adverse reactions" (we'll let you use your imagination on that one) from the meat, but recommends calling a doctor if you're concerned.
The recall includes:
- 54,509 lb. of “Banh Bao Pork & Egg Steamed Bun
- 15,147 lb. of “Banh Bao Trung Cut Pork & Quail Egg Steamed Bun Vietnamese Style.
- 55,114 lb. of “PORK PATE CHAUD
- 50,036 lb. of “CHICKEN PATE CHAUD
- 22,812 lb. of “SLICED OIL BROWNED TURKEY PREMIUM BREAST MEAT FULLY COOKED
