Miami firm recalls Jamaican patties over mistaken repackaging issue

A South Miami-Dade company recalled 60,457 pounds of Jamaican meat patties and chicken patties sent to restaurants and stores around Florida, the USDA announced Tuesday.

Unlike most recalls, the patties contain no undeclared allergens, food-borne illnesses (salmonella, listeria) or nonfood foreign objects (plastic, rubber).

The USDA said Food Safety Inspection Service “surveillance” determined Jamaican Tastee Patties, “repackaged the beef and chicken patty products without the benefit of federal inspection and used the mark of inspection from another establishment without authorization.”

Jamaican Tastee Patties owner Lance Williams told the Miami Herald on Tuesday he just made a mistake while trying to keep a customer happy.

A customer asked the company to put the patties into boxes half the size of those they were in, so they could better fit into the customer’s freezer. After repackaging the patties, Williams said, he needed to have the product inspected again.

Williams said the USDA inspector told him, “In the future, give the customer the box and let him change it himself.”

What was recalled:

18-ounce boxes, each with four “Authentic Jamaican Style Tastee Patties Jerk Chicken Turnovers Baked” with various sell-by dates.

18-ounce boxes, each with four “Authentic Jamaican Style Tastee Patties Beef Turnovers Spicy Beef Baked” with various sell-by dates.

18-ounce boxes, each with four “Authentic Jamaican Style Tastee Patties Turnovers Curry Chicken Baked” with various sell-by dates.

18-ounce boxes, each with four “Authentic Jamaican Style Tastee Patties Beef Turnovers

Mild Beef Baked” with various sell-by dates.

112-ounce cases, each with 24 “Authentic Jamaican Style Tastee Patties Beef Turnovers Spicy Beef Unbaked” with various sell-by dates.

112-ounce cases, each with 24 “Authentic Jamaican Style Tastee Patties Beef Turnovers Mild Beef Unbaked” with various sell-by dates.

The USDA released the list of stores that likely received the recalled patties.

Stores or businesses that the USDA says likely received the patties were, in alphabetical order:

Alabama Georgia Grocery, 748 Dr. MLK Jr Blvd. W, Belle Glade

Aldo’s Supermarket, 927 Old Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach

Asia Market Oriental Store, 9525 SW 160th St., South Miami-Dade

Caribbean Supercenter, 5111 West Colonial Dr., Orlando

Corner Grocery Plus, 265 West Ave. A, Belle Glade

Glades Food Market, 364 Dr. MLK Blvd. W, Belle Glade

Lima’s Quick Stop, 13378 SW 288th St. Homestead

One Stop Supermarket, 201 SW Dr. MLK Blvd. Belle Glade

P&P Tropical Fruit, 36995 SW 209th Ave., Homestead

Price Choice Supermarket, 109 S. State Rd. 7, Lauderhill

Rachel One Love, 16160 SW 146th Ct., Southwest Miami-Dade

Sunoco Gas Station, 11191 SW 176th St., South MiamiDade

Village Market, 464 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. W, Belle Glade

We Got The Produce, 8550 NW 45th St., Lauderhill

Restaurants are advised against serving the patties. Customers can return them to the store for a full refund.

Anyone with questions about the recall can email Lance Williams at lanceprt@bellsouth.net or call him at 305878-2716.