WASHINGTON –Triple J Family Farms recalled approximately 15,270 lbs. of bone-in ribeye on concerns the vertebral column may not have been completely removed, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reported March 25. Regulations require the removal of the vertebral column in cattle 30 months of age or older.

FSIS discovered the problem during a routine specified risk material verification (SRM). SRMs are tissues that may be infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or materials closely associated with potentially infected tissues. Vertebral column is considered a SRM and must be removed from cattle 30 months of age or older.

The problem may have occurred as a result of a recent change in the company’s carcass separation practices, according to FSIS.

The affected products include 40-lb boxes of "BEEF B/I RIB," bearing any of the following case codes: "91-R109H-C," "91-R109H-S," "91-R109H-C-SB," or "91-R109H-S-SB."

The recalled products bear the establishment number "EST.17466" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The ribeyes were produced and packaged on various dates between Feb. 8 and March 21 and were distributed to an FSIS-inspected establishment in New York for further processing and distribution.