Food Product Concern Addressed

The Brownsville ISD Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) meets all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) procurement guidelines in the purchase of food products for student and employee consumption. In November 2015, a batch of meat product that was not up to district standards was immediately recalled from all BISD cafeterias. It is important to note that none of this meat product was served at any BISD campuses. The product was returned to the vendor for full credit. Several district and campus FNS employees noticed that the product was defective and proactively reported their concern. Out of an abundance of caution, BISD has discontinued the purchase of meat products that are processed in Mexico. This meat product was raised and purchased in the United States from a USDA vendor but was processed in Mexico according to USDA guidelines and under the supervision of a USDA inspector. It is allowable to purchase foreign processed food products and it not uncommon for child nutrition programs in the U.S. to buy foreign products such as produce. Brownsville ISD has and will continue to abide with all USDA procurement guidelines to ensure that quality products are served to BISD students. The BISD Food and Nutrition Service provides over 96,000 breakfasts, lunches, and suppers each weekday to district students.