Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on April 22, 2025, for fully cooked pork carnitas products that may contain pieces of metal, posing a potential health risk. The agency has not requested a recall, as the affected products are no longer available for sale in stores.
The pork carnitas, produced by an establishment on April 1-2, 2025, were distributed to Aldi supermarkets nationwide. The affected products are 16-ounce sleeved tray packages labeled “Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS,” with “USE BY” dates of June 30, 2025, or July 1, 2025, printed on the side of the packaging. These packages bear the establishment number “Est. 46049” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The contamination was discovered during routine process checks at the production facility, when the establishment identified equipment damage that may have introduced metal fragments into the carnitas products. The company promptly notified FSIS, triggering the public health alert.
“There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of these products,” FSIS stated in its alert. However, the agency urged consumers who may have purchased the affected pork carnitas to check their refrigerators and freezers, as some products may still be in homes despite no longer being sold in stores.
FSIS advised consumers not to consume the affected products and to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Individuals concerned about potential injuries from consuming the product are encouraged to contact a healthcare provider.
The pork carnitas were part of a batch produced for Aldi, a major supermarket chain with locations across the United States. The products were marketed as a convenient, ready-to-eat meal option, slow-cooked with citrus for added flavor. The “USE BY” dates indicate the products were intended for consumption within a few months, raising concerns that some may remain in consumer households.
This incident follows a series of food safety alerts issued by FSIS in recent years, as the agency works to ensure the integrity of the nation’s food supply. Foreign material contamination, such as metal, plastic, or glass, is a recurring issue in food production, often linked to equipment malfunctions or human error during processing. FSIS routinely collaborates with producers to identify and address such risks before products reach consumers.
Consumers are encouraged to verify the establishment number and “USE BY” dates on any pork carnitas products in their possession to determine if they are part of the affected batch. The USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline is available at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) for questions about the alert or to report issues related to the product.
The public health alert underscores the importance of vigilance in food safety, even for products no longer on store shelves. FSIS continues to monitor the situation and work with the establishment to prevent future incidents. While no injuries have been reported, the potential presence of metal in the pork carnitas poses a serious risk, prompting swift action to inform the public.
