8,500 pounds of ground beef products are being recalled due to possible E. coli (Escherichia coli) contamination by Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, the FSIS (Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services, USA) has announced.

Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli is a bacterium which is commonly found in the lower intestines of warm blooded organisms. Most strains are harmless, but some, such as serotype 0157:H7 can cause food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls. Human infection which leads to illness may be caused by eating unwashed contaminated vegetables or undercooked contaminated meat, drinking untreated milk or dairy products, or contact with infected animals. Symptoms usually occur from 1 to 3 days after infection, and may include a slight fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, painful cramps (tummy ache), and general weakness.

FSIS informs that the product subject to recall includes:

42-pound cases of “GROUND BEEF FINE 90/10,” containing three (3) – approximately 14 pound chubs each. These products have a “use/freeze by” date of “07/01/10,” and an identifying product code of “W69032.

View Label of product

Inside the USDA mark of inspection the customer should find the establishment number – EST.9400.

The recalled products were produced on June 11th and were distributed to wholesale centers in Maryland and Connecticut; from there they have been distributed to retail outlets.

The products were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under various brand names, the FSIS stresses.

Cargill Meat Solutions Corp and the FSIS are concerned that some tainted products may already be in some consumers’ freezers. Consumers are strongly urged to check their freezers and immediately get rid of any products related to this recall.

The authorities became aware of a cluster of reported illnesses on August 5th, 2010. The FSIS was notified by the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Rural resources.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, the New York State Department of Health, and New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets have identified two cases in Maine, as well as one in New York with an indistinguishable PFGE pattern as determined by PFGE, subtyping in PulseNet. PulseNet is a national network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Illness onset dates range from June 24, 2010, through July 16, 2010.

The FSIS says the above-mentioned ground beef is definitely linked to the recent cluster of illnesses in Maine and New York.

Source: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), US Dept. of Agriculture.

Written by Christian Nordqvist