WASHINGTON – Mercedes, Texas-based Rio Tex Wholesale Meats is recalling approximately 58,180 lbs. of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef products that were shipped to hotels, restaurants and institutional use in Texas because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reports.

FSIS personnel discovered the problem while reviewing historical sampling data in the context of recent intensified verification testing with multiple Listeria monocytogenes positives. The historical sampling showed a recurrence of Lm isolates with indistinguishable Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns over a period of time within the establishment. Isolates present with indistinguishable PFGE patterns in environmental samples (including food contact and non-food contact surfaces) and on RTE meat products indicates that there are insufficient sanitary measures to prevent contamination of the production environment and the products with Lm.


Suspect beef products were produced on different dates between March 25, 2014, and Feb. 19, 2015. Products subject to recall include 20-lb. boxes containing four 5-lb. packages of Hausman Foods Cooked Beef Taco Filling; 20-lb. boxes containing four 5-lb. packages of Hausman Foods Seasoned Cooked Beef Barbacoa; 20-lb. boxes containing four 5-lb. packages of Hausman Foods Fully Cooked Barbacoa; 20-lb. boxes containing four 5-lb. packages of Hausman Foods Beef Carne Guisada; 15-lb. and 45-lb. boxes containing three 5-lb. or 15-lb. packages of Rio-Tex-Meats Barbacoa. All products being recalled contain the establishment number “EST. 13545” inside the USDA mark of inspection.