Cargill Beef Tongue Recalled over SRM

WASHINGTONThe USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, a Milwaukee firm, is recalling approximately 5,522 pounds of beef tongues that may not have had the tonsils completely removed.

Tonsils are considered a specified risk material (SRM) and must be removed from cattle of all ages in accordance with FSIS regulations. SRMs are tissues that are known to contain the infective agent in cattle infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as well as materials that are closely associated with these potentially infective tissues. Therefore, FSIS prohibits SRMs from use as human food to minimize potential human exposure to the BSE agent.

The recall involves various weight cases of "BEEF TONGUE #1 White" bearing establishment number "EST. 17690" on the product label. The products were produced Oct. 12-14, 2009, and shipped to distribution centers in Illinois for further sale.

Click here to view a copy of the complete recall.