WASHINGTON, August 19, 2003— Mark’s Quality Meats, Inc., a Detroit, Mich., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 3,600 pounds of fresh beef products that were produced under insanitary conditions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products were produced on Aug. 15 and 16 and distributed to restaurants in the Detroit metropolitan area.

The products subject to recall are various sized boxes of "BEEF, FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY, KEEP REFRIGERATED MARK’S QUALITY MEATS, DETROIT, MI 48209." Each box bears the production date "81503" or "81603" as well as the establishment code "EST. 8951" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The company used a multi-purpose label that indicates whether the boxes contain ground beef or various intact cuts of beef. All beef products produced on Aug. 15 and 16 are subject to the recall.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Mark Osten, company president, at (313) 554-2500.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.