• On October 24, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that Imperio Distribution LLC recalled ready-to-eat beef jerky products produced without federal inspection and bearing unauthorized USDA marks.
  • The recalled 2 oz. bags of IMPERIO FUEGO, ORIGINAL, and LIMÓN beef jerky were packaged between January and October 2026 and distributed to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
  • While no illnesses have been linked to the recall, the FSIS warned that uninspected food may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or contaminants; consumers are urged to discard the jerky or return it to retailers.

If you have beef jerky in your pantry, take note: On October 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued an announcement stating that Imperio Distribution LLC of Elgin, IL, has recalled an estimated 946 pounds of ready-to-eat beef jerky.

It turns out these products were produced without federal inspection. Additionally, the products were misbranded because of the unauthorized use of a USDA mark of inspection. The problem was discovered during FSIS surveillance.

It has been classified as a Class I recall. Thankfully, there are no reports so far of any illness or injury linked to the recalled beef jerky. However, there are a few possible dangers. In the recall announcement, the FSIS stated, “Food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants that put consumer health and safety at risk.”

Recalled products

The recalled items were packaged between January 2026 and October 2026 and distributed to retailers in seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

There are three varieties of jerky in the recall, with these labels:

  • 2 oz. sealed bag of "IMPERIO FUEGO BEEF JERKY (CARNE SECA)."
  • 2 oz. sealed bag of "IMPERIO ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY (CARNE SECA)."
  • 2 oz. sealed bag of "IMPERIO LIMÓN BEEF JERKY (CARNE SECA)."

The packaging also shows the unapproved use of another facility's mark of inspection, identified as establishment number "1885," which you can see inside the USDA mark of inspection.

What to do if you have the recalled beef jerky

The FSIS urges consumers not to eat it and to either throw it out or return it to the store you purchased it from. If you have eaten the jerky and you experience any symptoms, call your health care provider right away.

If you have any questions about the recall, you can contact Manuel Cortes, owner of Imperio Distribution LLC, by phone at 630-532-9560.