The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a recall for over 12,000 pounds of Canadian bacon after federal regulators determined the product never underwent required "import reinspection into the United States." The recall, designated "Class I," is the USDA's most severe risk category.
The affected products include 12-ounce vacuum packages of "Royale Natural Applewood Smoked uncured bacon product" and 12-ounce vacuum packages of "Top Valu uncured Hardwood Smoked bacon product," both originating from Maple Leaf Foods of Mississauga, Ontario. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service discovered the violation during routine inspection activities. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled bacon.
The recalled bacon was distributed to retail stores in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Consumers have been advised by authorities to discard the product or return it to their place of purchase. The USDA typically conducts inspections to check for issues such as transportation damage, temperature abuse, swelling in canned goods, odors, and incorrect labeling. In some cases, products are sent for lab testing to detect E. coli, Salmonella, or species fraud. Products that pass USDA inspection receive a mark of inspection, which was apparently absent from the recalled bacon packages.
This recall coincides with the upcoming implementation of President Trump's 50% tariff on numerous Canadian imports, set to take effect on August 19. It also occurs amidst a significant cyclospora food poisoning outbreak linked to lettuce from Mexico, which has affected over 7,000 people in the U.S. Earlier in the month, Taylor Farms recalled its iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico due to this outbreak. Maple Leaf Foods did not immediately provide comment on how its bacon bypassed the reinspection process for imported foods.