Fairbank Reconstruction Corp., Ashville, N.Y., recalled approximately 22,481 pounds of ground beef distributed to retailers because the product might contain pieces of plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said yesterday.

Fairbanks said it had distributed the products to Northeast grocers Price Chopper, Shaw's, BJ's, and Wilson Farms, as well as wholesaler C&S Wholesale, to stores in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York.

The meat processor made the recalled products on May 3. The problem was discovered after the company received consumer complaints about small pieces of hard plastic found in the meat, said FSIS. The agency said yesterday it had not received any consumer complaints, and that no injuries have been reported.

Fairbanks said all recalled products have either a "sell-by" date of 05/13/08, 05/15/08, or a "Julian date 124" on the package's label. It said the following products are subject to recall:
-- 1.2-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Sirloin 90/10." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a Julian Date of "124" on the bottom right hand corner, as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 1.3-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Beef 80/20." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a Julian Date of "124" on the bottom right hand corner, as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 1-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Beef Patties 80/20." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a Julian Date of "124" on the bottom right hand corner, as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 3-pound trays of "Shaw's Fresh Ground Beef Patties Family Pack 80/20." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a Julian Date of "124" on the bottom right hand corner, as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 1.3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Fresh Ground Beef Sirloin Patties, 90% Lean 10% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 1.3- and 3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Fresh Homestyle Ground Beef Round Patty, 85% Lean 15% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Pub Style Ground Beef Chuck Patty, 80% Lean 20% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 1.3-pound trays of "Price Chopper Fresh Homestyle Ground Beef Chuck Patty, 80% Lean, 20% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/13/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 5.3-pound trays of "BJ'S Fresh Ground Beef, 100% Beef, Contains 15% Fat." The labels bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/15/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
-- 1-pound trays of "Fairbank Farms Ground Chuck Patties, 100% Beef, Contains 20% Fat." The labels on the bottom of the package bear a "Sell-by" date of "05/15/08" as well as the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection.