If you recently bought frozen meat or chicken products online, you may want to take another look in your freezer.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a nationwide public health alert involving several frozen meat and poultry products that contain ingredients missing from their labels.
The warning, announced on November 6, 2026, involves three products manufactured by Betterballen Foods LLC, a company specializing in Dutch-style foods.
According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the affected products contain sesame, a known food allergen, but do not declare it on their packaging. One beef product also contains anchovy, a fish allergen, that isn’t listed.
Although the products are no longer available for purchase, federal officials worry some customers may still have them stored in refrigerators or freezers.
The USDA is urging anyone who purchased the affected products not to eat them.
Here’s what consumers need to know about the warning, which products are involved, and what to do if they have them at home.
Three Frozen Meat Products Are Affected
The public health alert covers three frozen products sold under the Betterballen Foods brand.
All three were distributed in clear, vacuum-sealed packages and carry best-by dates in October 2027.
The affected products include:
- Bami Rolls: Six-piece packages containing pork, with lot codes BR-2026-01 and BR-2026-02.
- Saté Kroketten: Ten-piece packages containing chicken, with lot code SK-1026-01.
- Bitterballen: Twelve-piece packages containing beef, with lot code BB-1026-01.
The products were manufactured on October 15, October 16, and October 27, 2026.
They also carry establishment numbers EST. M3177 or EST. P3177 inside the USDA inspection mark.
These details matter because consumers may have other frozen products from the same manufacturer that aren’t covered by the warning.
Checking the product name, packaging, and lot code can help determine whether a particular package is affected.
The Products Were Sold Online Across the United States
Unlike some food safety warnings involving products distributed through major supermarket chains, this alert concerns items sold primarily through an online retailer.
The USDA identified Lowlands House, a retailer specializing in European food products, as the business that distributed the frozen items through nationwide internet sales.
That means customers in different states may have received the affected products.
The agency also reported that some packages may have been sold at a festival and farmers’ market in Greer, South Carolina.
The warning drew attention locally because of those possible in-person sales.
Consumers who recently ordered Dutch-style frozen snacks or purchased similar products at a community event in Greer should check their packaging.
The distribution details don’t mean every frozen meat product sold online is affected.
The warning applies specifically to the identified Betterballen Foods products and lot codes.
Undeclared Sesame Is the Main Concern
The problem isn’t that the USDA discovered the products had spoiled.
Instead, the issue involves ingredients that weren’t properly disclosed on the packaging.
Federal officials determined that all three affected products contain sesame.
Sesame is one of the major food allergens recognized under federal labeling requirements.
For people with sesame allergies, consuming food containing the ingredient can trigger symptoms ranging from mild reactions to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Sesame became the ninth major food allergen recognized under federal law on January 1, 2023.
That recognition means covered food products must properly identify sesame as an allergen.
Consumers without sesame allergies might not think twice about the ingredient.
However, accurate labeling is particularly important for people who must avoid specific foods because of potentially serious allergic reactions.
The Beef Product Also Contains an Undeclared Fish Ingredient
The Bitterballen beef product has an additional labeling problem.
According to USDA officials, it contains Worcestershire sauce made with anchovy.
Anchovy is a type of fish, and fish is another major food allergen.
The ingredient wasn’t properly identified on the product label.
This creates an additional concern for consumers with fish allergies who might reasonably assume a beef snack contains no fish ingredients.
Worcestershire sauce is commonly used to add savory flavor to meat dishes, sauces, and marinades.
However, some traditional formulations contain anchovies.
That’s why checking ingredients in sauces and seasonings matters during food manufacturing.
The USDA’s warning emphasizes that both sesame and fish must be properly declared when present in covered products.
Why the USDA Issued a Warning Instead of a Recall
One detail might surprise consumers: the affected products haven’t been recalled.
Instead, the USDA issued a public health alert.
The distinction comes down to product availability.
According to the agency, a recall wasn’t requested because the affected items were no longer available for purchase when officials identified the problem.
However, that doesn’t mean the potential risk has disappeared.
The products have best-by dates extending into October 2027, meaning customers could reasonably still have unopened packages in their freezers.
Federal officials remain concerned about products consumers have already purchased.
The public health alert is intended to reach those customers before they prepare or eat the food.
So although this isn’t technically a recall, the recommended consumer action is clear.
Don’t eat the affected products.
A Routine Label Review Uncovered the Problem
The labeling issue wasn’t discovered because of a confirmed outbreak or a wave of consumer complaints.
Instead, federal officials identified the problem during a routine review of product labels.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service oversees the safety and proper labeling of meat, poultry, and certain egg products sold in the United States.
That responsibility includes checking whether packaging accurately identifies ingredients and allergens.
In this case, the agency determined that the labels didn’t properly disclose sesame and, for the beef product, anchovy.
The discovery prompted the November 6 warning.
No confirmed adverse reactions associated with the products had been reported at the time of the alert.
That is reassuring, but it doesn’t eliminate the reason for caution.
The products still contain ingredients that could cause reactions in people with relevant allergies.
What Consumers Should Do Right Now
The USDA advises anyone who purchased the identified Betterballen Foods products not to consume them.
Instead, customers should throw the packages away or return them to the place of purchase.
Consumers can check their freezer for the following identifiers:
- The Betterballen Foods brand name.
- Bami Rolls, Saté Kroketten, or Bitterballen product names.
- An October 2027 best-by date.
- One of the affected lot codes.
- Establishment number EST. M3177 or EST. P3177.
If the packaging matches the warning, the USDA recommends disposing of the food or returning it.
People who believe they’ve experienced an allergic reaction after eating one of the products should contact a healthcare professional.
Severe allergic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or throat swelling, require emergency medical attention.
Where Customers Can Get More Information
Consumers with questions about the products can contact Betterballen Foods LLC.
Consumers can reach the company at 312-340-4823 or by email at [email protected].
Questions about meat and poultry safety can also be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854.
The agency maintains an online collection of food recalls and public health alerts, where consumers can review official warnings and product information.
Checking government notices directly can help shoppers avoid confusion when food safety stories circulate online.
Not every product from a particular company is necessarily involved in an alert, so the identifying information matters.
