WASHINGTON, May 18, 2018 Hempler Foods Group, a Ferndale, Wash., establishment, is recalling approximately 8,535 pounds of ready-to-eat pepperoni sticks due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.The ready-to-eat pepperoni stick products were produced from April 20 through May 2, 2018. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]4 count/case of 2.25-lbs. of HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with PACKED ON date 04/21/18 and LOT # 8106.4 count/case of 2.25-lbs. of HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with PACKED ON date 04/26/18 and LOT # 8113.4 count/case of 2.25-lbs. of HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with PACKED ON date 05/01/18 and LOT # 8117B.4 count/case of 2.25-lbs. of HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with PACKED ON date 05/02/18 and LOT # 8117B.10 count/case of 9-oz. of HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with USE OR FREEZE BY date 01/15/19 and LOT # 8106.10 count/case of 9-oz. of HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with USE OR FREEZE BY date 01/16/19 and LOT # 8106.10 count/case of 9-oz. of HEMPLERS FAMILY CLASSIC PEPPERONI, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED with USE OR FREEZE BY date 01/22/19 and LOT # 8113.The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 6410 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distribution centers in California, Oregon, Utah and Washington, and then further distributed to retail stores.The problem was discovered on May 17, 2018, when the firm received a customer complaint that a package of Hemplers Family Classic Pepperoni, Natural Smoke Flavor Added, contained a different product identified as Hemplers Pepperoni with Jalapeno and Cheese, Natural Smoke Flavoring Added. The retail establishment notified the firm, who informed FSIS of the problem.There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.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.FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms are notifying their customers of the recall and that actions are being taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Arlie Jacobs, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Hempler Foods Group, at (360) 380-6684 or at Arlie.Jacobs@hemplers.com. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Stephen Bates, President of Hempler Foods Group, at (206) 399-1444 or at Stephen.Bates@hemplers.com.Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.
