FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Swedish Meatball Products Due to Misbranding and an Undeclared Allergen

Congressional and Public Affairs 
Mitch Adams (202) 720-9113
FSISpress@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert because Carso’s Pasta Company, a Lynnwood, Wash. establishment, sold 636 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) Swedish meatball products that were misbranded. The products contain anchovies (fish), which are not declared on the product label. A recall was not requested because it is believed that the products are no longer available for consumers to purchase.

The RTE Swedish meatball items were produced on various dates from Nov. 11, 2019 to Dec. 17, 2019. The following product is subject to the public health alert: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• 16-oz. plastic cups containing “CARSO’S PASTA CO. SWEDISH MEATBALLS IN SAUCE.” The product is labeled “KEEP FROZEN *MAY BE REFRIGERATED” and does not bear a use by or sell by date.

The products subject to the public health alert bear establishment number “EST. 20790” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were shipped to four Amazon Go retail locations in Seattle, Wash.

The problem was discovered by FSIS during routine label verification activities.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers or refrigerators. 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 and members of the media with questions about the public health alert can contact Dave Brown, President of Carso’s Pasta Company, at (425) 670-1302.

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/.