The USDA Argentine beef recall in Texas and Florida has consumers checking freezers after federal officials flagged nearly 30,000 pounds of imported meat. Corte Argentino USA LLC, based in Aventura, Florida, issued the recall on August 7, 2026, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered the beef entered the country without required import reinspection.
What Triggered The Recall
FSIS inspectors found the problem during routine inspection activities, not through a consumer complaint or illness report. The agency confirmed that roughly 29,628 pounds of raw beef products bypassed a mandatory reinspection step at the border.
That reinspection process checks documentation, labeling accuracy, packaging integrity, and the general condition of imported meat. Sometimes it also includes contaminant sampling. Skipping it means the beef’s safety status was never officially confirmed once it reached U.S. soil.
Because the products cleared that step, FSIS classified the recall as Class I. That’s the agency’s highest health-risk category, reserved for situations where there’s a reasonable chance the food could cause serious health consequences or death.
Which Products Are Affected
The recalled beef came from Frigorifico Gorina SAIC, a family-owned Argentine meat processor and exporter based in La Plata, Argentina. Five specific cuts fall under the recall:
- Top Sirloin Butt (“Cuadril Sin Tapa”)
- Eye Round (“Peceto”)
- Topside Cap Off (“Nalga AD S/Tapa”)
- Flat (“Carnaza Cuadrada”)
- Knuckle (“Bola de Lomo”)
All five arrived in various-weight cardboard boxes and carry the Argentine establishment number “EST. N° OF. 2025,” along with shipping mark “26644-AA.” The boxes are labeled “Product of Argentina.”
The beef was produced between May 15 and May 20, 2026, and carries use-or-freeze-by dates ranging from September 15 to September 20, 2026. Given those dates, FSIS believes some of the product may still be sitting in refrigerators or freezers across the two states.
Where The Beef Was Sold
Distributors and retailers in Florida and Texas received the affected shipments. FSIS has not released a specific list of grocery chains or stores, which makes it harder for shoppers to know exactly where the product landed.
Because the beef arrived in bulk boxes rather than individually wrapped retail packaging, it likely needed to be cut and repackaged before reaching store shelves. That step adds another layer of uncertainty about where the final product ended up.
No Illnesses Reported So Far
FSIS says no illnesses or injuries have been linked to the recalled beef as of the agency’s latest update. Still, officials are urging anyone who bought the product to throw it away immediately or return it to the point of purchase rather than risk consuming it.
Anyone who feels sick after eating beef purchased in Texas or Florida during the relevant window should contact a healthcare provider. Consumers with general food safety questions can also reach the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline.
Company And State Response
Corte Argentino USA LLC has designated Eial Kaplun, the company’s general manager, as the primary contact for questions from consumers and media. The company also distributes American Angus and Australian Wagyu beef alongside its Argentine-style cuts.
Outgoing Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller weighed in publicly on the situation, calling the inspection lapse unacceptable and encouraging Texans to prioritize American-raised beef when shopping.
Food safety advocate Dr. Darin Detwiler, who has studied import compliance issues, noted that a Class I designation typically signals something beyond a simple clerical error. He pointed out that reinspection at the border isn’t optional under federal rules.
Why This Recall Matters Right Now
Timing plays a role in why this recall has drawn extra attention. The Corte Argentino situation surfaced not long after the U.S. expanded its tariff-free beef import quota from Argentina, raising the annual limit from 20,000 tons to 100,000 tons. That policy shift was part of a broader push to ease record-high domestic beef prices.
American ranchers pushed back hard against that expansion when it was announced. Groups including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund voiced concerns, arguing it wouldn’t meaningfully lower grocery prices anyway.
Agricultural economists have largely agreed with that skepticism. Argentine beef still makes up only about 2% of total U.S. beef imports, even after the quota increase. Experts point to other factors driving up beef prices, including the smallest U.S. cattle herd size since 1961, a result of years of drought and previously low cattle prices.
Kansas State University agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor has said Argentina simply doesn’t have the production capacity to offset losses from other import sources. That reality means recalls like this one carry outsized political weight relative to their actual market impact.
How This Recall Fits A Broader Pattern
This isn’t the only recent Class I recall tied to import-paperwork failures. Earlier this summer, Maple Leaf Foods recalled more than 12,000 pounds of Canadian smoked bacon for a similar reinspection lapse. Together, these cases suggest FSIS has been paying closer attention to import compliance across multiple countries and product types.
FSIS has stated that all imported beef, poultry, and egg products must meet the same “equivalency” standard as domestic meat, meaning exporting countries are held to comparable inspection procedures. When that chain breaks down, even briefly, it triggers an automatic Class I response regardless of whether contamination is confirmed.
What Shoppers In Texas And Florida Should Do
Consumers in the affected states should check freezers and refrigerators for any of the five listed cuts, paying close attention to the establishment number and shipping mark printed on packaging. If the product matches, don’t taste it to check freshness.
Throwing the beef away or returning it to the store where it was purchased are the only two options FSIS recommends. Retailers should already be pulling matching inventory, but recall notices don’t always reach every shelf immediately, especially at smaller or independent grocers.
Given that the beef arrived in bulk packaging and was likely repackaged before sale, shoppers may not immediately recognize the original labeling. Anyone unsure whether a beef purchase falls within the recall window should contact the retailer directly or reach out to Corte Argentino USA LLC using the company’s published contact information.
Bottom Line
The USDA Argentine beef recall in Texas and Florida remains an active situation, with FSIS continuing recall effectiveness checks to confirm retailers have pulled the affected product. No confirmed illnesses have emerged, but the Class I classification means health officials aren’t ruling out risk.
Shoppers in both states should treat this recall seriously, verify any Argentine beef purchases against the listed cuts and dates, and dispose of anything that matches. As more retailers confirm removal of the product, expect FSIS to update its recall status accordingly.
Have you checked your freezer yet? Drop a comment below and let others know what you found.