Illinois packing plant recalls 430 pounds of uninspected meat

Hundreds of pounds of meat have been recalled by an Illinois packing plant.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced that Jones Packing LLC, located in Harvard, Illinois, recalled about 430 pounds of ham, hocks, and bacon that was not inspected.

“Under state and federal regulations, meat products pronounced without the benefit of inspection are considered unfit for human consumption and are required to be recalled,” said a department spokesperson.

The department found the “potential health hazard” during an ongoing investigation. Inspectors determined that a required process to prevent health hazards was not used. That process is Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, which is described as a “preventative approach to food safety that seeks to eliminate risks from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes.”

The recalled meats were sold under the label “Farmer Nicks LLC” and “Jones Packing LLC.” They have the establishment number “EST. 21783” inside the Illinois Mark of Inspection. Some packaging has the Illinois Mark of Inspection blocked out with a marker, however.

Production dates range from March to July 2014.

Recalled products include:

• 3-4 pound packages labeled as “ham”
• 1 pound packages labeled as “bacon,” “pepper bacon,” “jowl bacon,” maple bacon,” “apple bacon,” “pepper jowl bacon,” “apple jowl bacon” and “maple jowl bacon”
• 1 lb. packages labeled “pepper jowl”
• 1-2 lb. packages labeled “hocks”

If you have questions about the recall, call the plant’s representative, Rhonda Weidner, at 815-943-4488.