Beef Recall 

In light of the recent and ongoing media coverage of the beef recall, there are some facts that need to be shared. 

• Around February 1, the USDA notified our food service department and told them to hold the meat from a certain packer. Three or four days later, the USDA told us to hold certain lot numbers.
• Only certain lot numbers were of concern. Not all. We cannot confirm how much, if any, of the meat had been served to students during late January. We know it would have been a small amount if any, and it is also important to note that the meat in question came to schools already cooked from yet another preparer and then we cook it again. The meat in question was not raw. Our food service department uses very little raw meat.  
• This hold did not stop us from serving beef in our schools as we use a variety of different providers.
• We are holding about 150 cases of the meat with a value of around $2,000.
• We will hold the meat in question until the USDA tells us how to dispose of it.
• Our food services department receives requests for holds and recalls from the USDA and State regularly. Upon recall, we look at our required food bids to see if we even have the product. Up until this last recall we have had nothing. http://www.usda.gov
• Due to the extensive coverage of the manufacturer in question we were one of many many states that were affected.
• We will continue to diligently monitor the situation at hand and follow required procedures.

Our goal in the Child Nutrition Program is to feed safe, wholesome, nutritious foods to children to fuel their bodies so educators can fuel their minds. 

James D. Griffith

Food Services Department