Punahele Jerky beef crisps alert for possible undeclared soy
Several beef jerky products sold in Hawaii and online contain soy lecithin that is not listed on the label. Soy is a common allergen that can cause serious reactions in people with soy allergies. The products are no longer being sold, but some may still be in home pantries.
From the USDA notice · Read the official notice ↗
What to do
- Check your pantry for 6-oz. 'Dried Hawaiian Style Beef Crisps' or 4-oz. 'Uncle K's' or 'Kilauea Fire' beef crisps with best-by dates of February 17, 2027 or earlier
- Do not eat these products if you or anyone in your home has a soy allergy
- Throw away the products or return them to the store
- Call your doctor if you have eaten these products and experience an allergic reaction
Is yours affected?
Compare your label or packaging with the recalled product.
- Product
- 6-oz. plastic packages containing "DRIED HAWAIIAN STYLE BEEF CRISPS, ORIGINAL SALT & PEPPER FLAVOR", and bearing establishment number "EST. 2625" inside the USDA mark of inspection., 4-oz. plastic packages containing "PUNAHELE JERKY COMPANY INC UNCLE K'S BEEF CRISPS"., 4-oz. plastic packages containing "PUNAHELE JERKY COMPANY INC KILAUEA FIRE SPICY BEEF CRISPS".
- Sold in
- Nationwide
- Made for
- All ages
Details
- Illnesses reported
- None reported
- Manufactured in
- Punahele Jerky Company, Inc.
- Company contact
- Company Contact Food Safety and QA Compliance Officer Sabrina Vaughn 808-961-0877
- Classification
- Public Health Alert
- Recall number
- PHA-03012026-01
In the USDA's words
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for beef jerky products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The products may contain soy lecithin, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. The ready-to-eat beef jerky items bear best by dates of February 17, 2027 or prior. The following products subject to the public health alert are [ view labels ]: 6-oz. plastic packages containing "DRIED HAWAIIAN STYLE BEEF CRISPS, ORIGINAL SALT & PEPPER FLAVOR", and bearing establishment number "EST. 2625" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 4-oz. plastic packages containing "PUNAHELE JERKY COMPANY INC UNCLE K'S BEEF CRISPS". 4-oz. plastic packages containing "PUNAHELE JERKY COMPANY INC KILAUEA FIRE SPICY BEEF CRISPS". These items were distributed to retail stores in Hawaii and sold via online sales nationwide. The problem was discovered during a routine FSIS label review. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a health care provider. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' pantries. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Media and consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact Sabrina Vaughn, Food Safety and QA Compliance Officer, at 808-961-0877. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov . For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/ .