• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwo…
Recalled by Keith Valley Packing Company - A Division of Ben E. Keith
Meat & poultry recall
Keith Valley Packing Company - A Division of Ben E. Keith
Class I — most serious
There is a reasonable chance that using this product could cause serious health problems or death.
Keith Valley Packing Company - A Division of Ben E. Keith has recalled • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwo…, according to data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). The recall was reported on March 23, 2023 and was initiated on March 23, 2023. It is classified as a Class I recall, which means there is a reasonable chance that using this product could cause serious health problems or death.
Below is a plain-English summary of what was recalled, why it was recalled, how to tell whether you have the affected product, and what steps you can take. For the complete and most current details, you can view the USDA record linked further down this page.
What was recalled?
This recall covers • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwo…, with approximately 50,151-lbs of product recovered affected. The company behind the recall is Keith Valley Packing Company - A Division of Ben E. Keith. The USDA describes the product as: “• 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwood Smoked JALAPEÑO PEPPER BABY ROPE SAUSAGE” code 2705493011 and a use or freeze by date of May 11, 2023.”
Why was • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwo… recalled?
According to the USDA, the stated reason for the recall is: “Misbranding, Mislabeling, Unreported Allergens. WASHINGTON, March 23, 2023 – Kelley Foods, an Elba, Ala. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,455 pounds of smoked baby rope sausage due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection….” In plain terms, this recall relates to an undeclared ingredient or allergen.
An undeclared ingredient means a food contains something — often a major allergen such as milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, or tree nuts — that is not listed on the label. For most people this is not dangerous, but for someone with a food allergy or sensitivity it can trigger a serious reaction. Accurate labeling is required so that people can avoid ingredients they need to stay away from.
What should you do?
If you think you may have bought • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwo…, compare it against the product description and identifying codes before using it.
The general guidance for a matching product is to stop using it and follow the instructions in the official USDA recall notice, which may include a repair, replacement, refund, or safe disposal. When in doubt, contact Keith Valley Packing Company - A Division of Ben E. Keith or your local health authority.
About this recall
This recall was distributed in Alabama, Florida. RecallRadar summarizes recall information from public USDA data to make it easier to understand. We are an independent service and are not affiliated with the USDA or any government agency, so please always refer to the official source for the authoritative record — and note the “last synced” date shown on this page, since recall details can change over time.
Full recall details
- Status
- Completed
- Date reported
- March 23, 2023
- Recall started
- March 23, 2023
- Distributed in
- Alabama, Florida
Misbranding, Mislabeling, Unreported Allergens. WASHINGTON, March 23, 2023 – Kelley Foods, an Elba, Ala. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,455 pounds of smoked baby rope sausage due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.Show full text ▾
Misbranding, Mislabeling, Unreported Allergens. WASHINGTON, March 23, 2023 – Kelley Foods, an Elba, Ala. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,455 pounds of smoked baby rope sausage due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains cheese, thereby milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. The fully cooked smoked baby rope sausage item was produced on Jan. 10, 2023. The following product is subject to recall [ view labels ]: 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwood Smoked JALAPEÑO PEPPER BABY ROPE SAUSAGE” code 2705493011 and a use or freeze by date of May 11, 2023. The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST. 8016” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Alabama and Florida. The problem was discovered when the firm notified FSIS that a grocery store manager found that the Kelley Foods Jalapeño Pepper Baby Rope Sausage appeared to contain cheddar cheese, which was not listed as an ingredient on the product label. Upon further investigation, the firm confirmed that its jalapeño and cheddar baby rope sausage product contained the wrong label. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or 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 lists will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls . Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact David Werner, Senior Vice President of Independent Sales and Marketing, Kelley Foods, at 817-759-6000. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov . For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/ .What you can do
Check whether any product you have matches the description and codes above. If it does, stop using it and follow the instructions in the official recall notice. When in doubt, contact the company or your local health authority.
Quick answers
Why was • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwo… recalled?+
According to the USDA: Misbranding, Mislabeling, Unreported Allergens.
How serious is this recall?+
Class I — most serious. There is a reasonable chance that using this product could cause serious health problems or death.
What should I do if I have • 12-oz. vacuum-packed packages containing “KELLEY Naturally Hardwo…?+
Compare your product against the description and identifying codes on this page. If it matches, stop using it and follow the instructions in the official recall notice — this usually means returning it for a refund or discarding it. When in doubt, contact the company or your local health authority.
Opens the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) data for this recall.
Recall number: USDA-010-2023. Information last synced from the FDA on July 5, 2026.