AFG recalls E. coli-contaminated meat after outbreak in Illinois

American Foods Group of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has recalled over 95,000 pounds of ground beef products for E. coli contamination after the Illinois Department of Health confirmed consumers in that state had become ill with E. coli infections after eating AFG ground beef products.

American Foods Group of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has recalled over 95,000 pounds of ground beef products for E. coli contamination after the Illinois Department of Health confirmed consumers in that state had become ill with E. coli infections after eating AFG ground beef products.

E. coli outbreaks, recalls reminder of challenges to food safety

The latest technology allowed scientists at the Colorado Department of Health and Environment to link a pair of illnesses in Denver to the same E. coli pathogen sickening several people in California.

The Colorado scientists used an international computer database called PulseNet, created by officials who track illnesses.

"We then saw 11 cases with the same DNA fingerprint in five states," said Jim Beebe, Colorado's chief microbiologist.

"By using information shared worldwide, we can identify outbreaks that once were only viewed as isolated events," Beebe said.

Once Colorado made the link and the source was identified, the USDA announced on June 3 that United had issued a 75,000- pound recall of ground beef processed at its plant on April 20. It later expanded the recall to 5 million pounds of ground beef.
 

Update on United Food Group E. coli Recall and Outbreak

The ongoing recall of potentially E. coli-contaminated ground beef products produced by United Food Group has affected numerous stores nationwide.

The ground beed was carried by Albertson's, Basha's, Grocery Outlet, Fry's, "R" Ranch Markets, Sam's Club, Save-A-Lot, Save-Mart, Scolari's Wholesale Markets, Smart and Final, Smith's, Stater Bros. and Superior Warehouse Club supermarkets.

The meat was produced in Vernon, California, on April 13 and sold under the brand names of Moran's All Natural, Miller Meat Company, Stater Bros., Inter-American Products Inc., and Basha's.

Sam's Clubs in California, Arizona and Nevada were the only stores belonging to that chain stocked with the recalled product.
 

Risk of E. coli contamination spurs Safeway recall of ground beef

Safeway is voluntarily recalling several fresh ground beef products sold at its Arizona stores because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The products have sell-by dates of April 20, 2007 through May 1, 2007.

The recall is in response to United Food Group LLC's extended recall of 370,000 pounds of ground beef. The recall has been extended to include a number of products, including the following products sold at Safeway stores:

  • Miller Ground Beef Chub 80% Lean
  • Regular Ground Beef 73% Lean
  • Regular Ground Beef 73% Lean Extreme Value
  • Lean Ground Beef 80% Lean
  • 80% Lean Ground Beef Market 20% Fat
  • Lean Ground Beef 80% Lean Extreme Value
  • Lean Ground Sirloin
  • Leanest Ground Beef 93% Lean
  • Lean Ground Sirloin Extreme Value
  • 93% Lean Ground Beef 7% Fat Extreme Value
  • 85% Lean Ground Beef 15% Fat Extreme Value
  • 80% Lean Ground Beef Market 20% Fat Extreme Value
     

Michigan E. coli recall - Update

Davis Creek Meats and Seafood of Kalamazoo, Michigan, is recalling approximately 129,000 pounds of beef products due to possible E. coli contamination.

The potentially contaminated meat was shipped to Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Generally, steaks are not considered a high-risk source of E. coli O157: H7. However, the steak products subject to recall were mechanically tenderized and that process may have transferred the bacteria from the surface to the inside of the product.

Meanwhile, Ukrop's, a Virginia supermarket chain, recalled beef that may be part of a larger meat recall initiated by a Minnesota company.  PM Beef Holdings recalled ground beef and trim after its products were linked to an E. coli outbreak in Minnesota.  Byerly's and Lunds stores already have recalled any potentially contaminated meat, but at least seven people became ill with E. coli before the recall was initiated.
 

Minnesota beef recall expands

PM Beef Holdings expanded an E. coli recall to include 117,500 pounds of beef trimmings to make ground beef yesterday. The original recall was initiated after an E. coli outbreak among Byerly's and Lunds customers in the Minneapolis area who had consumed ground beef products from the stores.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the recall comes after an E. coli outbreak that has sickened seven Twin Cities residents, who purchased and ate ground beef from either of the two stores. While those stores have already removed any potentially contaminated beef from their shelves, today's move greatly expands the scope of the recall.

The beef trimmings in question were processed on March 27 at the PM Beef Holdings plant in Windom, and the USDA said it was shipped to distributors and retail outlets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Ohio and Virginia.
 

E. coli outbreak in Minnesota

According to an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Minnesota health officials have traced an E. coli outbreak in late April to ground beef sold at grocery several stores in Minnesota towns. 
ground beef E. coli recallThe meat was sold under a store label at the Edina Lunds, and Byerly's stores in Minnetonka, Chanhassen and St. Louis Park, according to the health department.

Five adults and two children were among those sickened. Three were treated at area hospitals. The infections were reported between April 21 and April 28, according to the health department.

State health officials added that any ground beef purchased at the stores since April 7 should be thrown out or returned to the store.
In a Minnesota Department of Health press release, "E. coli O157:H7 cases linked to ground beef purchased at Lunds or Byerly’s stores since mid-April," Heidi Kassenborg, Acting Director of the Dairy and Food Inspection Division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture stated, "[W]e can't be certain that meat from other stores is not involved, since all of the beef used for ground beef for Lunds and Beverly's stores comes from a single procesing facility." 

While the ground beef has not been recalled, the Minnesota Department of Health is encouraging consumers to throw out or return the ground beef products to stores.
As a precautionary measure, Lunds and Byerly’s have voluntarily removed many varieties of ground beef from all of their stores and are cooperating fully with the investigation.

Lunds and Byerly’s customers are urged to return or destroy fresh ground beef purchased at any of their stores since April 7, 2007. This includes ground beef purchased fresh then frozen at home. It includes fresh beef patties, fresh or frozen meatloaf and ground chili meat. Customers should return the ground beef to any Lunds or Byerly’s immediately for a full refund. (A receipt is not required.)

Virginia Firm Recalls Beef Products for Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Dinner Bell Meat Products, Inc. a Lynchburg, Va., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 909 pounds of beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The products subject to recall are:

  • 10- pound bags of "DINNER BELL GROUND BEEF"
  • 10- pound box of "DINNER BELL CUBED STEAK"
  • 80- pound box of "DINNER BELL BONELESS BEEF”

The problem was discovered through company testing.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

The products were distributed to retail establishments and a distributor in southern Virginia.
 

E. coli Recall Release

Southeastern Meats, a Chattanooga, Tenn., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 4,337 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services found the bacterial contamination during a routine microbiological test.

The products recalled are:
 

  • 10- pound boxes of "GROUND BEEF PATTIES, SOUTHEASTERN MEATS, INC."
  • 5- and 10- pound bags of "GROUND BEEF, SOUTHEASTERN MEATS, INC."
  • 10- pound bags of "TACO BEEF MIX, INGREDIENTS BEEF AND BEEF PARTS, SOUTHEASTERN MEATS, INC."
     

The ground beef was produced on July 31 and August 1, and was distributed to retail establishments and institutions in Georgia and Tennessee.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.
 

E. coli concerns force recall of 13,000 pounds of beef

A Lubbock meat packer is voluntarily recalling more than 13,000 pounds of ground beef after federal inspectors found that the meat may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

Plains Meat Company sent the beef to restaurants and distributors in Amarillo and Lubbock.

The US Department of Agriculture says the potential hazard was discovered through routine testing.

There have been no reports of illness.
 

Texas Firm Recalls Ground Beef for Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

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 USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that the following items are being recalled:

  • Five to 20- pound packages of "GROUND BEEF, PACKED BY PLAINS MEAT COMPANY, LTD."
  • Five to 20- pound packages of "BEEF PATTIES MIX, PACKED BY PLAINS MEAT COMPANY, LTD."
     

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.
 

Georgia firm recalls ground beef for possible E coli O157:H7 contamination

Ray's Wholesale Meats, a White, Ga., firm, is voluntaryily recalling approximately 120 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says that the products subject to the recall are 10-pound packages of “Ray’s Wholesale Meats, Ground Beef, Net Wt 10 lbs,” with an establishment number of “Est 27504.”

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 on July 25 and was distributed to retail establishments in Georgia.
 

Maryland Firm Recalls Ground Beef For Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

George G. Ruppersberger & Sons, Inc., a Baltimore, Md., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 315 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The products subject to recall are 10-pound packages of “Ground Beef, Net Weight 10LBS”, with the establishment number “Est 5931” and the package code “627963”.

The ground beef was produced on July 13 and was distributed to restaurants and institutions in Baltimore, Maryland.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.