Public health alert issued for raw beef, pork. See affected products.

A public health alert has been issued for a selection of raw beef and pork products that were not federally inspected.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for select Blackwing raw beef and pork products on Wednesday, March 25, as they were produced without the benefit of federal inspection. Food produced without inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria or other contaminants, according to the FSIS.

The issue was discovered during an ongoing FSIS investigation.

As of March 25, the FSIS nor Blackwing were aware of any illness or injury related to the consumption of the raw beef or pork products. USA TODAY reached out to Blackwing for any potential updates on March 27.

Here's what to know about the latest public health alert.

What beef, pork products are affected by the public health alert?

The public health alert affects seven Blackwing products, as outlined by the FSIS:

• 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed piece of "Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef New York Strip Steak" with "Est. 1996" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 10-pound box of 16-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed package of "Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Ground Beef."
• 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed package of "Blackwing Organic Meats Grass Fed Organic Beef Stew Meat," with "Est. 1996" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 5-pound box of 8-ounce packages containing a vacuum-packed piece of "Blackwing Organic Meats Organic Beef Steak Strips," with "Est. 1996" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• 1-pound vacuum-packed package of "Blackwing Meats Blackwing Beef Ground from Organic Beef," without USDA mark of inspection.
• 12-ounce vacuum-packed package of "Blackwing Meats Pork Ground Made from Organic Pork," without USDA mark of inspection.
• 12-ounce vacuum-packed package of "Blackwing Meats Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops 2-6-ounces Made from Organic Pork," without the USDA mark of inspection.

Where were the affected beef, pork products sold?

According to the FSIS, the affected products were sold at wholesale and retail locations nationwide. Specific locations were not shared, as of March 27.

What to do if you have the beef, pork products affected by the public health alert

Do not consume products affected by the public health alert. Throw the products away or return to the place of purchase.

Consumers may contact Blackwing Meats President Roger Gerber for more information at 847-838-4888 or [email protected], according to the FSIS annoucement.

Consumers with food safety questions may call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or send questions to [email protected]. Consumers who wish to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product may submit a form on the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/. The form is monitored 24 hours a day, according to the FSIS.

What's the difference between a recall and public health alert?

A recall is a voluntary action by a company to remove "adulterated or misbranded product" from sale, according to the FSIS. A recall is intended to protect the public from unsafe and improperly labeled foods.

A public health alert, on the other hand, is issued by the FSIS to inform the public about potential health risks in cases where a recall cannot be recommended. For example, the FSIS may be aware of an outbreak of foodborne illness, but the source hasn't been identified.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].