Vermont Packinghouse is recalling about 10,828 pounds of raw intact bone-in beef quarters because the products may contain specified risk materials, specifically vertebral column. The beef was sold at Walden Local Butcher Shop in Boston, Massachusetts. Specified risk materials mean that the beef may contain bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions, which may lead to mad cow disease. The cattle were more than 30 months of age. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.

The carcasses were slaughtered from February 8, 2018 to June 8, 2018. The recalled product is white butcher paper wrapped packages of fresh T-bone and Porterhouse steaks from Walden Local Butcher Shop in Boston, Massachusetts. The quartered carcasses were shipped from Vermont Packinghouse to that one location for further processing. These recalled beef products were only sold at that one location. The products were not shipped to consumers who have memberships with the retailer.

The problem was discovered when the USDA’s FSIS was notified by the state of Vermont of a complaint. FSIS investigated the compliant.

FSIS is concerned that some of these steaks could be frozen in consumers’ home freezers. Please check your freezer carefully. If you bought these steaks from Walden Local Butcher Shop, do not eat them. Cooking does not kill BSE prions. Throw them away in a sealed and secure garbage can after wrapping the steaks well, or take them back to the store wher you bought them for a refund.

FSIS is going to conduct retail effectiveness checks on this recall, to make sure that the recalling firm is notifying customers about this recall.