Dear AAPS Parents and Guardians,
This past weekend the USDA issued a recall on meat products that were distributed as a commodity item through the United States Department of Education’s school lunch program.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools does have some of this meat product (beef patties and taco meat) in our possession but it has never been served to any student in this district.
On January 30th the USDA informed food service providers across the nation, including Chartwells the AAPS food service provider, to place a hold on this meat. Immediately Chartwells employees marked the meat “DO NOT USE” and stored it in freezers until further notification. With the recall issue this weekend the meat will now be gathered and placed in a separate freezer away from all schools until the supplier picks it up for disposal. Since this meat was a commodity product many districts across the nation have some supply of the product.
The safety of our students is our number one priority. Chartwells is in full compliance with government safety and sanitation codes and regulations as well as local health codes. In addition Chartwells practices a sophisticated food safety, sanitation and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point program that assures quality service. Chartwells will continue to monitor the situation for any further instructions from the USDA.
For further information you may refer to the release from the Secretary of the USDA concerning this recall: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Recall_005-2008_Release.pdf.
Sincerely,
J. Todd Roberts, Ed.D
Superintendent
