More on the Topps E. coli recall and outbreak
Reporter Stephen Hedges questions the way the Topps E. coli recall was handled in an article published today in the Chicago Tribune. He chronicles the E. coli outbreak investigation and the response by USDA, giving the timeline from the first reported E. coli illness to confirmation of that illness and confirmation of E. coli in Topps hamburger patties and finally the recall and its expansion.
One of the points Hedges makes in the article is that USDA knew of a positive E. coli test from a meat sample and a human sample over two weeks before the recall was initiated:
Amanda Eamich, a USDA spokeswoman, said that the USDA's recall committee first met on Sept. 25 to consider the Topps case, 18 days after E coli was confirmed in a Topps hamburger, according to Robertson's e-mail, which was provided to the Tribune.The committee, comprised of department officials, concluded then that it should request a Class I recall of the Topps meat, she said.
Class I is the USDA's most serious recall class. It means that there is "a reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death."
