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CLASS I RECALLPRODUCED WITHOUT INSPECTION

Imperio Beef Jerky Recall 2026: No Inspection, 7 States, Class I

Imperio Distribution LLC is recalling about 946 pounds of beef jerky. It was made without federal inspection. USDA calls it a Class I recall.

By DeJuan Tartt & Ahnjonee Tartt · Published · Fact-checked against USDA records

Strips of beef jerky stacked on a wooden cutting board on a kitchen counter.
Beef jerky. Not the recalled product.

Check your pantry for this one.

Imperio beef jerky in 2 oz. sealed bags: Fuego, Original or Limón, with establishment number "1885" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Packaged January to October 2026. Don't eat it. Throw it away, or return it to the store.

On this page
946
pounds recalled, about
7
states it was distributed to
0
confirmed illnesses or injuries
Oct 24
FSIS announced the recall

The short version

  • Imperio Distribution LLC, of Elgin, Illinois, is recalling about 946 pounds of ready-to-eat beef jerky.
  • The jerky was made without federal inspection. Its bags carry another plant's USDA mark of inspection, used without approval.
  • USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, or FSIS, lists it as a Class I recall, the most serious kind.
  • The jerky was distributed to stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.
  • It's shelf-stable, so it may still be in your pantry. It was packaged from January 2026 to October 2026.
  • No illnesses or injuries have been confirmed.

What happened in the Imperio beef jerky recall

FSIS found the problem during its surveillance activities. It announced the recall on October 24, 2026. The recall number is 027-2026, and its status is active.

The jerky was produced without the benefit of federal inspection. It's also misbranded. The bags carry establishment number "1885" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

That number belongs to another facility. It was used without approval. The notice doesn't name that facility.

Why does that matter? FSIS says food made without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria or other contaminants. The notice doesn't say any were found. It says they may be there.

Where it was distributed

The jerky was distributed to retail locations in seven states. FSIS says it will post the list of stores at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls when it's available.

States on the distribution list: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, WI.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

One note. The state tags at the top of the FSIS page list Mississippi. The notice text says Missouri. We used the notice text.

Source: USDA FSIS recall notice, October 24, 2026.

Timeline

  1. January 2026
    Packaging of the recalled jerky begins (FSIS notice)
  2. October 2026
    Packaging of the recalled jerky ends (FSIS notice)
  3. October 24, 2026
    FSIS announces the Class I recall (FSIS notice)

Recall class

FSIS lists this recall as Class I. That's a health hazard situation. There's a reasonable chance that using the product will cause serious health problems or death.

The other classes are lower. Class II means there's a remote chance of health problems from using the product. Class III means using the product won't cause health problems, or the risk is negligible.

Recalled products

Imperio Distribution LLC (announced October 24, 2026)

All three products are 2 oz. sealed bags. Look for establishment number "1885" inside the USDA mark of inspection. FSIS lists the jerky as heat treated and shelf stable.

The Fuego bag is purple with a clear window. The front reads "IMPERIO," "BEEF JERKY • CARNE SECA" and "FUEGO."

Imperio Distribution LLC (announced October 24, 2026)
Product (as printed)SizeEstablishment number on the bagPackaged
IMPERIO FUEGO BEEF JERKY (CARNE SECA)2 oz. sealed bag1885, inside the USDA mark of inspectionJanuary 2026 to October 2026
IMPERIO ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY (CARNE SECA)2 oz. sealed bag1885, inside the USDA mark of inspectionJanuary 2026 to October 2026
IMPERIO LIMÓN BEEF JERKY (CARNE SECA)2 oz. sealed bag1885, inside the USDA mark of inspectionJanuary 2026 to October 2026

What to do if you have the recalled jerky

Don't eat it. Throw it away, or return it to the store where you bought it.

Questions about the recall? Call Manuel Cortes, Owner, Imperio Distribution LLC, at 630-532-9560.

Food safety questions? Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854), or email MPHotline@usda.gov.

Did you already eat it? FSIS says anyone concerned about an illness or injury should contact a healthcare provider.

Why uninspected meat is recalled

FSIS says food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria or other contaminants. FSIS says those put health and safety at risk. The notice doesn't say any of these were found in the jerky.

No illnesses or injuries have been confirmed.

Also recalled by USDA: Kayem Foods meat and poultry.

Check any food recall

This is a USDA recall. NutraDetective's food recall search covers FDA food recalls. You can search it by product, brand, company or barcode.

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Sources

  1. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Imperio Distribution LLC Recalls Beef Jerky Products Produced Without the Benefit of Inspection. Recall 027-2026. Announced October 24, 2026; last updated October 24, 2026. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/imperio-distribution-llc-recalls-beef-jerky-products-produced-without-benefit
  2. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Recall 027-2026 Labels (PDF, 6 pages). https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2026-10/Recall-027-2026-Labels.pdf

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Recall information comes from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service pages listed under Sources. This page is for information only and is not medical advice.