Corte Argentino USA LLC, based in Aventura, Florida, has recalled about 29,628 pounds of raw, boneless beef imported from Argentina, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The reason isn’t a contaminated batch — it’s paperwork. The shipment entered the United States without the mandatory USDA import reinspection, a check that’s supposed to happen at the port of entry before foreign meat can be sold here. FSIS says the lapse turned up during a routine inspection, and the recall was first announced in early August 2026.
FSIS assigned the recall its highest hazard rating, Class I — a label meaning there’s a reasonable probability that eating the product could cause serious illness or death. That sounds alarming, but it reflects the missing inspection step, not a confirmed problem with the meat itself. No specific contaminant, such as E. coli or salmonella, has been named in the recall notice, and through August 27, 2026, no illnesses or injuries have been linked to the beef.
Key facts
- Company: Corte Argentino USA LLC (Aventura, Florida)
- Amount recalled: about 29,628 pounds of raw, boneless beef
- Origin: Argentina, produced by Frigorifico Gorina SAIC
- Reason: shipment skipped mandatory USDA import reinspection — not a contamination finding
- Hazard class: Class I (highest), reflecting the missing inspection step, not a confirmed pathogen
- Distribution: Texas and Florida, plus restaurants, hotels and catering companies
- Product codes: establishment number “EST. N° OF. 2025” or shipping mark “26644-AA”
- Use-or-freeze-by dates: September 15-20, 2026
- Illnesses reported: none, through August 27, 2026
What was recalled
The recall covers five raw, boneless whole-muscle cuts, produced by Frigorifico Gorina SAIC in Argentina between May 15 and May 20, 2026:
- Top sirloin butt
- Eye of round
- Topside cap off
- Flat
- Knuckle
Packages carry two separate codes worth checking: the Argentine establishment number, “EST. N° OF. 2025,” and the shipping mark, “26644-AA.” Both codes together, along with a use-or-freeze-by date falling between September 15 and September 20, 2026, identify the recalled product.
The beef went to distributors and retailers in Texas and Florida. Corte Argentino’s other clients include restaurants, hotels and catering companies, so commercial kitchens could also have received some of the product, in addition to what reached grocery shelves. FSIS has not named specific stores; the agency says it will post a retail distribution list on its website if one becomes available.
What to do if you have it
If the beef in your freezer or fridge matches those cuts and carries both the establishment number and the shipping mark and date range above, FSIS’s advice is simple: throw it away or take it back to where you bought it. Anyone who has already eaten it and has health concerns should contact a doctor.
Is this linked to E. coli or mislabeled meat?
No. Coverage of the recall has consistently pointed to the same cause — the shipment bypassed required import reinspection — not a detected pathogen. A fact-check by NewsNation also looked into online claims that the beef was secretly horse meat or otherwise mislabeled and found no evidence to support that. The recall’s only confirmed cause remains the skipped inspection step.
It’s also worth separating this from other recent beef news. A Chicago company recalled a small batch of ready-to-eat pastrami and corned beef for possible listeria around the same week. Separately, two earlier 2026 recalls — from CS Beef Packers in Idaho and Mountain West Food Group — involved confirmed E. coli concerns. All three are unrelated companies and unrelated events; none of them is this Argentine beef recall.
Sources and further reading
- Corte Argentino USA LLC Recalls Raw Beef Products Imported Without The Benefit Of Import Reinspection
- Mountain West Food Group, LLC Recalls Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. Coli O26 Contamination
- CS Beef Packers, LLC Recalls Ground Beef Products That May be Contaminated With E. Coli O145
- City Foods, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Pastrami and Corned Beef Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination
- content.govdelivery.com