Federal regulators have announced a major canned beef stew recall impacting more than 200,000 pounds of product distributed across the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued the alert after discovering the products may be contaminated with wood fragments, posing a potential choking and injury hazard to consumers.
The recall affects products from the popular brand Stockman’s Stew Co., a subsidiary of a major national food processor. The company initiated the recall after receiving several consumer complaints, which were then reported to the FSIS. The agency has classified this as a Class I recall, a designation reserved for situations where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Key Details of the FSIS Recall
For consumers seeking to identify the recalled product quickly, the following table summarizes the most critical information.
| Key Fact | Detail / Specification |
| Product Name | Stockman’s Stew Co. Traditional Hearty Beef Stew |
| Can Size | 24-ounce cans |
| Lot Codes | 240115, 240116, 240117 |
| “Best By” Date | JAN 2027 |
| Establishment No. | “EST. 19821” inside the USDA mark of inspection |
Scope of the Recall and Potential Health Risks
The FSIS recall notice, issued late Monday, specified that approximately 215,000 pounds of the canned beef stew product are affected. The products were produced on January 15 and 16, 2025, and shipped to distribution centers and retail locations nationwide.
The primary concern is foreign material contamination. According to the public health alert, the wood fragments are believed to have been introduced accidentally during the manufacturing process.
“The ingestion of foreign materials like wood can lead to traumatic injury to the mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract,” said Dr. Angela Russo, a food safety expert and former USDA official. “While not toxic, the material poses a significant choking hazard, particularly for children and elderly individuals. A Class I recall is appropriate given the potential for serious injury.”
To date, there have been three confirmed reports of minor oral injuries associated with the consumption of these products. There have been no reports requiring hospitalization. The FSIS has stated it is concerned that some consumers may have the recalled product in their pantries and is urging everyone to check their canned goods.
What Consumers Should Do
Regulators and the company are instructing consumers not to consume the affected products. They advise anyone who has purchased the recalled canned beef stew recall items to take the following steps:
- Check your pantry: Look for 24-oz. cans of “Stockman’s Stew Co. Traditional Hearty Beef Stew.”
- Do not eat the product: The stew should be thrown away immediately or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Stockman’s Stew Co. has established a consumer hotline to address questions and concerns. In a statement, the company expressed its regret and affirmed its commitment to food safety.
“We were alerted to an issue at one of our processing facilities and took immediate action to investigate,” the statement read. “We are working closely with the FSIS and have temporarily halted production on the affected line to identify and rectify the source of the contamination. The safety of our customers is our highest priority.”
Broader Implications for Food Safety
This large-scale recall highlights the ongoing challenges of preventing foreign material contamination in complex food processing environments. While manufacturers employ numerous safety measures, including metal detectors and X-ray scanners, materials like wood or plastic can be more difficult to detect automatically.
The FSIS performs regular inspections and works with companies to ensure they have robust food safety management systems in place. When a recall occurs, the agency works to verify that the company is taking effective steps to notify the public and remove the unsafe product from commerce.
The investigation into the root cause of the contamination at the Stockman’s Stew Co. facility is ongoing. The company has not provided a timeline for when production will resume but has assured regulators it will not restart the line until the safety of its process can be guaranteed.
FAQ on Canned Beef Stew Recalled
1. Which specific beef stew product is being recalled?
The recall is for 24-ounce cans of Stockman’s Stew Co. Traditional Hearty Beef Stew. You should check for the “Best By” date of “JAN 2027” and the establishment number “EST. 19821” printed on the can.
2. Why is the stew being recalled?
The product is being recalled due to potential contamination with wood fragments. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a Class I recall, as these fragments pose a choking and oral injury risk.
3. What should I do if I have this product?
Do not eat it. You should either throw the product away or return it to the store where you bought it for a complete refund.
4. Have there been any reported injuries?
There have been three confirmed reports of minor oral injuries. No hospitalizations have been reported.
5. Who can I contact for more information?
For questions about the recall, you can contact Stockman’s Stew Co. directly. For general food safety questions, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.