USDA Issues Public Health Alert on Meat in 5 States and Washington, D.C.

Barbecue season is so close you can smell it—but if you’ve recently picked up grass-fed ground beef to stock up on burger fixings proactively, the USDA is advising you to check your freezer before that package makes it to the patio.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for a one-pound package of White Oak Pastures Grassfed Ground Beef after two consumers reported finding metal fragments in the product. The beef was produced on February 26, 2026, and shipped to Mom’s Organic Market locations across Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Note that this is a public health alert, not an official recall. The FSIS issues public health alerts when a potentially contaminated product is no longer available for purchase at retail. The product’s sell-by date was March 19, 2026, meaning it’s been removed from point-of-sale but may still be in freezer storage.

Here’s what to look for: A 16-ounce, vacuum-sealed plastic package labeled, White Oak Pastures, Radically Traditional Farming, Grassfed Ground Beef, stamped with establishment number EST 34729 and the code 105761 Sell by 03/19/26 on the back.

No injuries have been confirmed, but the FSIS is urging consumers not to eat this product. Throw it away or return it to the store where you purchased it.

Anyone who believes they may have been injured should contact a healthcare provider. The alert indicates that consumers with questions can reach the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854.

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