Nearly 30,000 pounds of Chomps Beef Sticks recalled over potential metal in meat
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Trader Joe's recalls sparking water
Trader Joe's has recalled a brand of sparking water due to concerns that the glass containers may shatter.
Fox - LA
Chomps' parent company has recalled nearly 30,000 ready-to-eat beef sticks after customers reported metal in the product.
Idaho Smokehouse Partners notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service that they received two complaints from customers reporting pieces of metal in their beef sticks.
The Idaho-based manufacturer then issued a voluntary recall Thursday for approximately 29,541 pounds of ready-to-eat beef stick products, shipped to stores in California and Illinois, saying they may have been contaminated with metal.
There have been no confirmed reports of injuries due to the consumption of the contaminated beef sticks.
Idaho Smokehouse Partners did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on Saturday.
Here's what to know about the Chomps recall and how to remedy the situation.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Chomps recall: Affected products, remedy
The potentially contaminated ready-to-eat beef sticks were made between Jan. 13 and 15, 2025, and have a Feb. 10, 2026, expiration date.
"FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' pantries," the agency said. "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."
Anyone concerned about a potential injury related to the recall should contact a health care professional immediately.
Relevant product information:
Product: 1.15-ounce vacuum-sealed packages of "Chomps Original Beef Stick Mild"
Expiration date: 2/10/2026
Lot code: 25016
Establishment number: 6220A
Consumers with questions about the current recall may contact Idaho Smokehouse Partners by phone at 208-227-5282.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Journals
3 hours ago
- Business Journals
How a Texas healthcare company cracked the code on rising employer healthcare costs
At a time when most employers are bracing for double-digit increases in healthcare spending, one Texas-based company has taken a different path, quietly sidestepping the crisis and helping others do the same. Next Level, the name behind Texas' ubiquitous urgent care clinics, isn't just in the business of treating colds and sprains. With just over 800 employees of its own, the company faced the same challenge plaguing businesses across the country: how to offer meaningful, accessible healthcare benefits without going bankrupt. 'Claims were up 30 percent year over year, and pharmacy spend was climbing faster than ever,' said Juliet Breeze, MD, CEO and Founder of Next Level. 'Like everyone else, we were staring down a future where doing right by our people meant unsustainable costs.' But rather than pass the cost on to employees or trim benefits, Breeze and her team decided to rethink the model altogether. The result was Next Level Prime, a healthcare benefits program built on the principles of direct primary care (DPC), layered with wraparound services aimed at improving access, reducing chronic disease risk, and lowering total cost of care. What started as an internal solution for Next Level's workforce has since become a fast-growing option for other Texas employers looking for a better way. In 2024 alone, organizations using Next Level Prime saved a combined $26 million in healthcare claims, proof that a more proactive, prevention-first model doesn't just sound good – it works. A Smarter Front Door to Healthcare At the core of Next Level Prime is the belief that early, convenient access to care changes everything. Rather than waiting until health issues spiral into costly emergencies, members can walk into any Next Level clinic (open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week), access telemedicine 24/7, and receive care that emphasizes prevention and chronic disease management. One of the biggest impacts? Emergency room avoidance. In 2024, over 7,100 Prime members reported that without access to the program, they would have sought care at the ER. Those avoided visits alone accounted for $19.5 million of the total savings. 'The best way to save money on healthcare is to keep people healthy and out of hospitals in the first place,' said Breeze. That philosophy extends beyond urgent care and into proactive, lifestyle-based interventions. Recognizing that obesity is a key contributor to chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, Next Level integrated a comprehensive weight management program into its Prime offering. The program includes personalized coaching, regular monitoring, and access to effective, affordable medications for eligible members. While nationally about 33% of health plan members now use high-cost, brand-name medications for weight loss and diabetes, fewer than 1% Next Level's health plan members do. It's not because they're going without care, but because they're using Next Level's in-house alternative instead. At an employer cost of just $189 per month, the program delivers the same therapeutic benefit at a fraction of the typical $1,140 monthly cost of brand-name drugs. Employers avoid skyrocketing pharmacy bills, and employees get meaningful support without the co-pay. A Growing Community of Savvy Employers Next Level isn't alone in its desire to fix a broken system. As more employers push their benefits consultants to explore nontraditional options, word about Next Level Prime is spreading. Today, the program serves more than 360 employers and boasts a 97% retention rate. 'Employers are done accepting the status quo,' said Breeze. 'They're asking tougher questions. They want to know what else is out there, and they want solutions that are proven, not just theoretical.' Next Level works both directly with employers as well as through brokers, making it easy to customize the program based on each company's needs. The goal is to ensure employers have access to innovative solutions like Prime, whether they come through a trusted advisor or explore it on their own. More Than a Benefit—A Retention Tool The ripple effects of Prime go beyond dollars and cents. Healthier employees are less likely to miss work, more likely to stay with their employers, and more engaged when they're on the job. With a Net Promoter Score (NPS) over 90, the program is proving to be as popular with employees as it is with finance teams. 'When healthcare is easy to access, judgment-free, and actually helps people feel better, it changes everything,' said Breeze. And in an era of rising healthcare costs and growing burnout, that kind of change isn't just welcome, it's essential. Click here to learn more about Next Level Prime. Next Level is a physician-founded healthcare organization providing high-quality, affordable care across more than 45 clinics throughout Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Beaumont. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Next Level is committed to transforming the healthcare experience through speed, convenience, and compassion. In addition to urgent and primary care services, the organization partners with employers through its innovative Next Level PRIME program, a direct primary care and urgent care solution that offers employees and their families unlimited in-clinic and virtual visits with no copays or deductibles. Employers benefit from significant reductions in emergency room visits, increased productivity, and improved staff retention. Next Level also provides customized onsite clinics and occupational medicine programs designed to streamline workplace injury care and enhance overall employee health. As a trusted healthcare partner for businesses, schools, and municipalities, Next Level Urgent Care continues to set the standard for accessible, value-driven medical care in Texas.
USA Today
14 hours ago
- USA Today
Sugar cookies sold in 20 states recalled for potential wood contamination: See map
Hundreds of cases of sugar cookies sold at Target are being recalled for potential contamination by a "foreign material," according to a notice posted to the Food and Drug Administration's website. The voluntary recall for the Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies was issued on July 22 by Give and Go Prepared Foods Corp. in Canada, according to the FDA. Favorite Day is a private label brand sold at Target. In total, 803 cases are being recalled due to the potential foreign contamination. The cookies, which could potentially contain wood, were distributed across 20 different states and Washington, D.C., the notice stated. The recall is classified as a Class II recall, meaning the product "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences," according to the FDA. A press release was not issued for the recall, but as of Sunday, Aug. 10, the recall is ongoing. Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY on Aug. 10. Where were the recalled sugar cookies sold? The cookies were sold in the following states and districts: How to tell if you purchased the recalled product The recalled cookies, Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies, 10 count, were distributed by Target and produced in Canada. The cookies are a part of Lot 25195, with the UPC number 85239-41250 3. The packs of cookies have varying Best By Dates, as that is determined by when the retailer removed the cookies from the freezers, according to the notice. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
German Volume Training (GVT) could help you pack on muscle size and strength — here's how, according to a personal trainer
German Volume Training, or GVT, is a method that uses 10 sets and 10 reps of a compound exercise to maximize your efficiency (and gains) in the gym. With just 60 seconds between sets and as few as two exercises included per gym session, the training technique could help you pack on size pretty fast in just a matter of months. Recently, I spoke with Max Taylorson, a London-based personal trainer, who uses the method to help his clients hit their muscle mass targets with volume and overload. As a trainer myself, I had never heard of the method before, which Taylorson tells me was first used by the German national weightlifting team and later adopted by strength coach Charles Poliquin. You can certainly trust the Germans to be efficient — and this method is just that, trust me. Here's everything you need to know about GVT, including how it can help you pack on lean muscle size and take your muscles to their absolute limit. There's little room to maneuver when it comes to GVT, as you'll be rigidly sticking to 10 sets of 10 reps, taking just 60 seconds of rest between each set. Taylorson tells me you're looking to include two compound exercises in a session, like a squat and bench press. You'll lift at roughly 60-70% of your one-rep max (the maximum you can lift for that movement), and you'll know if you've hit the mark because it should feel like you could maybe achieve 15 to 20 reps at that weight. Remember, there are 10 sets to reach in total, so avoid increasing or decreasing the weight throughout your working sets. Each set will begin to feel more challenging, so keep aiming for 10 reps, if you can. Once you can comfortably hit all 10 reps for 10 sets, it's time to add weight incrementally. Doing so will help you break through plateaus and improve strength, muscle gain and endurance. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It builds muscle quickly due to high volume. 'It builds muscle quickly due to high volume,' Taylorson explains. 'GVT uses a simple and easy-to-follow structure, which makes it easy to track progress and pushes muscles to their maximum potential, leading to growth.' Taylorson first discovered GVT for his own training regimen, having struggled to put on size previously. 'This type of program helped me increase volume,' he says. 'Focusing on big compound lifts, doing 10 sets of 10 reps, overloads the muscles. It was never time-consuming either, so great for my clients who are on a tight schedule.' Taylorson reminds me that less is more…despite the 'more is more' structure of GVT. By that, he means only pick two exercises per session. If you want to add accessory work after, you can, but only pick a couple of exercises to finish with, using a more typical weightlifting structure (so not 10 x 10). He also recommends opposing muscle groups during the session, like the lower and upper body, so that you don't overtrain a single muscle group. Try to focus on keeping movements controlled and working muscles through their full range of motion during each exercise. That means half reps don't count, and neither do rushed reps. Tempo plays into time under tension, an important part of hypertrophy, or the muscle growth process. Aim to count three to four full seconds during both phases of the movement, for example, the lowering and standing phase of a squat. Add a pause or beat at the bottom and top of the movements, too. Taylorson says programming depends on you and your workout goals, but try to train several times per week with rest days prioritized. As a trainer myself, I also recommend keeping a close eye on your form and stopping during a set before it, or you, go to absolute failure. Your results and recovery will also depend on your diet, so refueling with plenty of protein-rich foods is important. Here's how much protein you need to build muscle. An example GVT workout format: Alternate between your exercises, resting after every set. Finish with any accessory work (if you want to, this is optional), and complete as many reps of the 10 as you can. Once you manage 10 sets of 10 quite comfortably, add load. Try to stick to a program for four weeks before switching things up or mixing in new exercises. Remember, the above is only a guideline. Beginners, the German Volume Training Method may not be suitable to start your weightlifting journey with, so if you do want to try it, work closely with a personal trainer who can keep you safe and tailor your program accordingly. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
