WASHINGTON– Taco Bell announced in a news release on Oct. 15 that it recalled 2.3 million lbs. of seasoned beef from its restaurants and distribution centers.

The quick-service restaurant stated that it removed and discarded the beef products in 21 states around the eastern Midwest, northern Southeast and Northeast regions. The problem was discovered when a customer reported they found a metal shaving in their menu item, according to Taco Bell.

The company also said that the product was produced at one plant location on only one of the two lines used to make seasoned beef. The beef product was sent to Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia.

“Nothing is more important than our customers’ safety, and nothing means more to us than their trust,” said Julie Masino, president of North America, Taco Bell Corp. in a statement. “As soon as we received the first consumer complaint, we immediately acted to remove the product from the affected restaurants and proactively worked with the supplier to inform the USDA of our steps to protect our guests.”

According to the US Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Kenosha, Wisconsin-based Kenosha Beef International recalled an undetermined amount of seasoned beef product that may be contaminated with metal shavings.

The beef items were produced from Sept. 20, 2019 to Oct. 4, 2019. 

The following products are subject to recall: 

• Cases containing eight 5-lb. plastic bags of “TACO BELL SEASONED BEEF Taco and Burrito Filling” with use by dates of “L2 11/4/19” to “L2 11/18/19”.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 10130” on the case. These items were shipped to five distribution centers, and from there shipped to restaurant locations nationwide.  

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.