Huisken Meat Co. of Sauk Rapids is recalling nearly 90,000 pounds of ground beef patties sold at Wal-Mart stores because of possible contamination with wood.
The recall involves 2-pound boxes that contain six pieces of "Sam's Choice Black Angus Beef Patties with 19% Vidalia Onion," according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Sam's Choice is a Wal-Mart brand. The 89,568 pounds of recalled meat was distributed nationally.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse health reactions from people eating the recalled products, the USDA said. The withdrawal is a "Class II" recall, meaning that while a health hazard exists, there's only a remote probability of harmful consequences.
The USDA described the contaminant as "extraneous wood materials." It said the contamination originated with an ingredient and was discovered during production.
Small splinters of wood got into the beef patties through Vidalia onions supplied to Huisken, said Mike Riley, sales vice president for Branding Iron Holdings, Huisken's parent company, which is based in Sauget, Ill., near St. Louis. The company suspects the wood came from the onions' packing crates.
"With any kind of fragmented material, we felt it necessary and appropriate to issue a recall," Riley said.
Consumers should throw the recalled products out, or return them to the place of purchase, the USDA said.
