A new USDA public health alert is raising serious questions about a meat brand that’s been selling products across the country for nearly two years.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for various raw beef and pork products produced by Illinois-based Blackwing Meats after determining the products were sold without federal inspection. To make matters worse, some of the products appear to carry a false USDA mark of inspection — a detail that makes this alert stand apart from a standard food safety notice.
The alert covers products distributed to wholesale and retail locations nationwide from April 2024 through March 2026, and FSIS has confirmed the investigation is ongoing. Additional products may be added as more information comes to light.
Why This Alert Is Especially Serious
Most food safety alerts involve a known contaminant — bacteria, metal, an undeclared allergen — tied to a specific production run. This one is different.
When meat is sold without the benefit of federal inspection, it means no government oversight verified that the product was safe before it reached consumers. According to FSIS, food produced without inspection “may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants that put consumer health and safety at risk.” The concern isn’t limited to one specific issue — it’s that the full range of safety checks that protect consumers never happened.
Making the situation more serious: the first four products on the alert list bear an unauthorized establishment number “EST. 1996” inside what appears to be a USDA mark of inspection — a false mark. The last three products don’t include any USDA mark of inspection at all.
Which Products Are Included
The following Blackwing Meats products are subject to this public health alert:
- 5-lb box of 8-oz vacuum-packed packages of Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef New York Strip Steak — bears “EST. 1996” inside a false USDA mark of inspection
- 10-lb box of 16-oz vacuum-packed packages of Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Ground Beef — bears “EST. 1996” inside a false USDA mark of inspection
- 5-lb box of 8-oz vacuum-packed packages of Blackwing Organic Meats Grass Fed Organic Beef Stew Meat — bears “EST. 1996” inside a false USDA mark of inspection
- 5-lb box of 8-oz vacuum-packed packages of Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef Steak Strips — bears “EST. 1996” inside a false USDA mark of inspection
- 1-lb vacuum-packed package of Blackwing Meats Blackwing Beef Ground From Organic Beef — no USDA mark of inspection
- 12-oz vacuum-packed package of Blackwing Meats Pork Ground Made From Organic Pork — no USDA mark of inspection
- 12-oz vacuum-packed package of Blackwing Meats Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops 2 6-ounce Made From Organic Pork — no USDA mark of inspection
Where Were These Products Sold?
Unlike many food safety alerts tied to a specific retailer or region, this one is broader. The affected products were shipped to wholesale and retail locations nationwide over the course of nearly two years — from April 2024 through March 2026.
That wide distribution window means these products could be in the freezers of consumers across the country, many of whom may not realize they need to act on this alert.
What to Do If You Have These Products
If you have any Blackwing Meats beef or pork products matching the descriptions above, do not consume them regardless of how the product looks or smells.
FSIS recommends:
- Throw the product away immediately, or
- Return it to the place of purchase for a full refund
No confirmed illnesses or injuries have been reported at this time, but FSIS is urging consumers not to wait for symptoms before acting.
If you have questions about this alert, contact Blackwing Meats directly:
- Phone: 847-838-4888 (ask for Roger Gerber, President)
- Email: [email protected]
The Bottom Line
FSIS has issued a public health alert for seven Blackwing Meats beef and pork products distributed nationwide from April 2024 through March 2026. The products were sold without federal inspection, and some bear a false USDA mark of inspection. No illnesses have been confirmed, but anyone with these products in their freezer is urged to discard them or return them for a refund immediately. This is an ongoing investigation, and additional products may be added to the alert.
