Some frozen ready-to-eat pork products, possibly illegally imported from Ecuador, have been sold in Pennsylvania. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on Monday (December 2) regarding these products, which are labeled "Mortadella Especial Bolognia."
Ecuador is not authorized to export meat and poultry products to the United States, raising concerns about the legality of these imports. The products in question lack the USDA mark of inspection and an establishment number, which are typically required for meat products sold in the U.S.
The FSIS discovered the issue during routine surveillance activities at a warehouse, where they found the mortadella bologna products without proper inspection marks. These items were distributed to retail and distributor locations in several states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island, in addition to Pennsylvania.
Although there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from consuming these products, the FSIS advises consumers to avoid eating them. Instead, they should discard the products or return them to the place of purchase. Anyone with concerns about illness should contact a healthcare provider.
For more information, consumers can contact Veronica Vasquez, President of Ecuatorianita Imports & Exports, LLC, or reach out to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline.