WASHINGTON – Federal food safety officials have issued a public health alert for a pork product sold at Aldi stores nationwide. The warning concerns pork carnitas that may contain metal fragments.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, known as USDA FSIS, stated the alert affects fully cooked pork carnitas produced April 1-2, 2025.
Specific items include 16-ounce sleeved tray packages labeled "Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS." These products carry "USE BY" dates of "06/30/2025" or "07/01/2025."
The product bears establishment number “Est. 46049” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers can view labels for verification.
The manufacturer, Cargill Meat Solutions, discovered the potential metal contamination during routine process checks. Equipment damage during production is suspected as the cause.
FSIS did not request a recall because the affected product is no longer available for sale in stores.
Officials report no confirmed injuries or adverse reactions linked to consuming the product. Anyone with health concerns should contact a healthcare provider.
Despite being off shelves, the USDA issued the consumer warning as some product may remain in household refrigerators or freezers.
Consumers possessing the affected pork carnitas should not eat it. The product should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
Media inquiries regarding the alert can be directed to Cargill at [email protected]. Consumers can contact Cargill's Consumer Hotline at 1-844-419-1574.
For broader food safety questions, consumers may call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email [email protected]. Problems with meat, poultry, or egg products can also be reported through the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.