Health warning issued across US after illegal import of duck blood from Myanmar
Illegally imported foreign food, including duck blood, has been discovered on the shelves of US supermarkets.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) last week issued a warning about “ineligible” meat and poultry products from Myanmar in Southeast Asia.
The alert covers seven products sold by multiple brands in cans or clear packaging, including duck blood, dried fish, beef curry, chicken biryani, two types of fish paste and coconut soup paste.
The FSIS said the products were shipped to retailers in Arizona, California, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
Myanmar is banned from exporting meat or dairy products to the US and the agency is investigating how the illegal products entered the country.
The products – listed at the bottom of this article – were first discovered when FSIS conducted surveillance of retailers and found the products on shelves.
The agency has urged retailers not to sell the products, but is concerned that other retailers are unknowingly selling them and that customers may already have them at home.
The FSIS said there have been no reports of adverse events resulting from consumption of these products.
Cans of duck blood (pictured above) have been illegally imported into the US from Myanmar
Vacuum-sealed packages of dried seafood products (pictured above) were also among the seven products illegally imported from Myanmar
The FSIS’ alert also said the products included in the public health alert do not have an establishment number or a USDA mark of approval.
An FSIS spokesperson said this Newsweek: ‘Meat and poultry products from Myanmar are not eligible for export to the United States.
Because the product has been identified and is being withdrawn from the market, the risk to public health is considered low.
“To import meat, poultry or egg products into the U.S., products must come from certified countries and companies eligible for export to the United States.”
This is not the first time this year that FSIS has issued a public health alert for products. In August, the agency published a alert for 17 products imported from Myanmar.
The items were sold under the Grandma brand name and included a range of curries, chicken, fish paste, fermented soya beans and fish.
The US has imposed sanctions on exports from Myanmar across multiple industries, including food, agricultural products, jewelry and certain construction materials, due to illegal sourcing practices or inadequate inspection processes.
The public health alert comes amid increased concerns about the U.S. food supply chain, food products and food safety.
In another public health alert from the CDC, the agency is monitoring a nationwide outbreak of E.coli at McDonald’s that has sickened 75 people, including two people hospitalized with a serious condition that can cause kidney failure.
One person has died.
The outbreak is believed to be due to the onions used on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers.
The fast food giant has temporarily removed Quarter Pounders from the menu in certain states due to a potential food safety issue.