PFP Enterprises, LLC, also doing business as Texas Meat Packers, a Fort Worth, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 7,146 pounds of raw beef products that were produced and packaged without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.
The frozen and fresh beef items were produced on March 23-24, 2018. The following products are subject to recall:
• 5-lb. vacuum-packed frozen packages of “BEEF SKIRT DICED FOR TACOS,” with a case code of 1470 in the upper left-hand corner of the label and a packaging date of 03/24/18.
• 5-lb. vacuum-packed frozen packages of “PRESEASONED BEEF FOR FAJITAS,” with a case code of 36989 in the upper left-hand corner of the label and a packaging date of 03/24/18 and a use-by date of 03/23/19.
• Varying weights of vacuum-packed packages of fresh “USDA CHOICE ANGUS BEEF, FAJITA SEASONED STEAK, BEEF FLANK STEAK FOR FAJITAS,” a packaging date of 03/23/18 and 03/24/18, a use or freeze-by date of 04/18/18, and an item code of 567248261 in the upper left-hand corner of the case label.
• Varying weights of vacuum-packed packages of fresh “USDA CHOICE ANGUS, FAJITA SEASONED STRIPS, BEEF FLANK STRIPS FOR FAJITAS,” a packaging date of 03/24/18, and a use or freeze-by date of 04/18/18, and an item code of 567248253 in the upper left-hand corner of the case label.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 34715” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutional and retail locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.
The problem was discovered on March 30, 2018 when inspection personnel reviewed establishment records and determined that the establishment operated on March 24, 2018 without inspection.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Shane Fresh, vice president of quality assurance for Patterson Foods, at 817-546-3561.
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Weather continues to wreak havoc with Kansas City Kansas Community College softball although this spring’s unseasonably cold has not prevented the Lady Blue Devils from putting up some impressive statistics.
Because of snow and freezing temperatures, KCKCC’s scheduled doubleheader with Cloud County Tuesday has been moved back to Thursday at 1 and 3 p.m.
The Blue Devils will go into Thursday’s games ranked No. 21 nationally in home runs with 19 and 43rd in the nation with 32 stolen bases.
Individually, freshman Kaylee Arnzen ranks ninth nationally in home runs with nine and 27th in batting with a .421 average and a .909 slugging percentage while Basehor-Linwood sophomore third baseman Kali Jacobson is 22nd in triples with four.
Nine doubleheaders remain on the KCKCC schedule. After the home twin bill with Cloud on Thursday, the Blue Devils are scheduled at Hesston Friday and Hutchinson Saturday. They’ll play a rescheduled doubleheader at Independence Monday, April 9, and then play host to Allen County April 10 and Neosho County April 17 in their final Jayhawk twin bills of the season.
Blue Devil sophomores will be honored during a home doubleheader with Ottawa Thursday, April 19, before KCKCC closes out regular season play at Sterling College Aug. 23. First round playoff action is scheduled for April 28-29.
Rep. Pam Curtis
Guest column
Opinion
by Rep. Pam Curtis
On Thursday, March 29, we honored Vietnam War veterans on the House Floor for National Vietnam War Veterans Day. It was on March 29, 1973, that the combat support units withdrew from South Vietnam. It was an honor to recognize the service and sacrifice of Vietnam Vets and all servicemen and women of this era.
We learned on Friday afternoon that the House Judiciary Committee will meet this week to consider the resolution to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would alter the Kansas Constitution to allow the Legislature to determine how much money is needed to provide a suitable education and prevent courts from considering the issue. Here is a link to HCR 5029. http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/measures/hcr5029/
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and appreciate your input on issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at 785-296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also e-mail me at pam.curtis@house.ks.gov
Bill heard that would arm Kansas teachers
On Monday, the House Insurance Committee had a hearing on HB 2789. The bill would create an act making teachers first responders in the case of a school shooting. If this bill should pass, it would encourage firearms in classrooms. Teachers would be allowed to carry concealed firearms in schools, with the logic that in a shooting, these teachers would be able to stop an active shooter.
Proponents for the bill admitted that an increase in the number of guns will likely lead to more shootings, comparing this with more vehicle accidents as a result of more cars on the road. Opponents pointed out the many issues that surely would arise from the passage of this bill. Teachers should not be expected to be trained and carry weapons. Guns have no place in our schools.
Kansas House Democrats will fight the passage of this bill and continue to work for the safety of our children.
School funding bill kicked out of committee
Late Wednesday evening, the House K-12 Budget Committee kicked out a bill to fund schools. The Kansas Supreme Court struck down SB 19 last October, ruling it unconstitutional, and giving the legislature an April 30, 2018, deadline to present an adequate and equitable school funding plan.
Republican leadership commissioned a study to be done by Dr. Lori Taylor, which they hoped would provide an idea of how much money would be necessary to satisfy the court. However, upon the presentation of that study, those same Republicans denounced the findings, which concluded that Kansas schools use their dollars efficiently and that more money is directly correlated with better student performance.
The bill kicked out of the K-12 Education Budget Committee would appropriate $500 million dollars to schools, to be phased in over a five-year period. It is unclear whether the Kansas Supreme Court would find this amount constitutional.
Constitutional amendment introduced
In the House Taxation Committee, a constitutional amendment was introduced that would strip the Kansas Supreme Court of any role in deciding what is deemed a suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the state. The amendment – which would first have to pass both legislative chambers with a two-thirds majority before being placed on the ballot in August or November – gives the legislature the sole power to interpret the Kansas Constitution and decide how much money is enough money for schools.
Republican leadership has been in open defiance of the court throughout the Gannon case over insufficient and inequitable funding for Kansas schools. This is merely an attempt to remove the Courts from the equation and continue to underfund schools.
Last week on the House floor
Last week, the House worked several bills on the floor. Some of these are listed below. To view all of the bills worked in the House this week, visit http://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/chamber/house/calendar/2018/3/.
SB 328: Creates and amends law related to security operations of state correctional and juvenile correctional facilities, and would create law related to Department of Corrections participation in the Kansas Police and Firemen’s Retirement System as an eligible employer for certain employees.
SB 281: Amends the Protection from Stalking or Sexual Assault Act to apply to victims of human trafficking.
H Sub for SB 374: Amends law concerning driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both. Specifically, the bill would amend statutes governing the crimes of operating or attempting to operate a commercial motor vehicle under the influence; implied consent; and tests of blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substance. The bill also would repeal the crime of test refusal.
H Sub for SB 391: Establishes the Joint Legislative Transportation Vision Task Force.
HB 2773: Creates the Kansas Safe and Secure Schools Act.
H Sub for SB 307: Amends the Kansas Amusement Ride Act.
SB 282: Amends the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and certain statutes pertaining to crimes involving controlled substances. The bill would amend the definition of “marijuana” and authorize the sale of certain CBD (cannabidiol) products.
HB 2644: Exempts postsecondary educational institutions that have implemented a performance agreement with the State Board of Regents from the performance-based budgeting requirements.
SB 394: Expands the definition of “lobbying” to include lobbying of the executive and judicial branches and make related changes.
H Sub for SB 57: Amends the qualifications for candidacy for several statewide elected offices. The bill would require every candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, and State Commissioner of Insurance be a qualified elector of Kansas. The bill also would require a candidate for the office of the Attorney General to be licensed to practice law in Kansas.
Resources
My Legislative Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/PamCurtisKCK/
My Twitter Account, https://twitter.com/pcurtiskck
My Website, http://www.curtisforkck.com/
Kansas Legislature Website, http://kslegislature.org/li/
Rep. Pam Curtis represents the 32nd District in Kansas City, Kansas.
