Texas Firm Recalls Ground Beef for Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination
Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-025-2006 HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Tara Balsley
WASHINGTON, August 4, 2006 - Plains Meat Company, LTD., a Lubbock, Texas, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 13,078 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
Preparing Ground Beef For Safe Consumption
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit www.fsis.usda.gov
Although the product(s) being recalled should be returned to the point of purchase, consumers preparing other ground beef products should heed the following advice.
The products subject to recall are:
* Five to 20- pound packages of "GROUND BEEF, PACKED BY PLAINS MEAT COMPANY, LTD.," Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 1429" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
* Five to 20- pound packages of "BEEF PATTIES MIX, PACKED BY PLAINS MEAT COMPANY, LTD.," Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 1429" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.
The ground beef was produced between July 31 and August 4, 2006 and was sent to restaurants and distributors in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact company Owner Howard Griffin at (806) 765-5595.
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ Food_Safety_Education/ Ask_Karen/. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
