Smith Packing Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Recalled Due to High Sodium Nitrite Levels

The items have been categorized under the highest recall threat level.

An image of one of the recalled meat products from New York-based Smith Packing, LLC. USDA

New York-based Smith Packing, LLC, is pulling out roughly 18,792 pounds of ready-to-eat sausage, sliced meat, and poultry products off the market as sodium nitrite levels in these items exceed the regulatory threshold limit, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in an April 29 statement.

“The problem was discovered after the firm notified FSIS that it had received consumer complaints of products that were off-taste and off-color,” the announcement said.

“There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.”

Sodium nitrite is an odorless powder used for preserving meat and fish, in pharmaceuticals, and in metal treatment and finishing.

Exposure at high levels reduces the blood’s ability to transport oxygen in the body, leading to fatigue, dizziness, and headache. The substance also causes abdominal pain and diarrhea.

“Exposure to very high levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse, and even death,” according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

The FSIS announcement said the recalled items were distributed to institutional and retail outlets in New York. The products, manufactured between Feb. 19 and April 24, bear establishment numbers “EST. 4578” and “P-4578.”

The recall has been classified as “High-Class I,” which is the most severe of the three recall classifications used by the U.S Department of Agriculture, under which FSIS operates.

A Class I recall is issued for a health hazard situation in which there is a “reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

FSIS said it was concerned that “some products may be in institutional and consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers and institutions who have purchased these products are urged not to consume or use them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

There have been other instances in the past where excessive sodium nitrite had led to action from the FSIS.

In June last year, the agency issued a public health alert for certain not-ready-to-eat pork and beef bacon products after finding that sodium nitrite levels exceeded regulators’ limits. However, no recall was issued at the time since the affected items were no longer being sold.

Regulatory Actions

According to a Sept. 26 post by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG), sodium nitrites are added to foods for various reasons, including extending shelf life and stabilizing artificial flavors.

Sodium nitrites are often used by meat and poultry manufacturers to color cured meat pink or red.

The substance continues to be included in the food supply chain as the Food and Drug Administration classifies it as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).

“The purpose of the rule was to allow ingredients, such as vinegar, to skip regulatory approval only if they’re known to be safe. But the loophole allows manufacturers to certify their own ingredients as safe rather than submitting them to the FDA for approval,” EWG said.

This month, the state of Washington took action to restrict the sale of highly concentrated sodium nitrite, with Gov. Bob Ferguson signing a bill, HB 1209, to this effect.

The substance has been linked to several youth suicides across the nation, State Rep. Sharlett Mena, who sponsored the bill, said in an April 7 statement.

“The law prohibits the sale or transfer of sodium nitrite above 10 percent concentration to anyone other than verified businesses or institutions with a legitimate need. It also requires warning labels, record-keeping, and imposes civil penalties for violations,” it said.

“Tyler’s Law” honors 15-year-old Tyler Schmidt, who died after ingesting the chemical he bought online.

Even with warnings dating back to 2018, some businesses continue to sell sodium nitrite at concentrations of up to 99 percent without any age verification or safety measures put in place, the statement said.

Sellers who violate the rules under the bill will be subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 for the first violation, with subsequent violations attracting a penalty of up to $1 million.