Are Meat Recalls A Cause For Concern?

This is the first time in three years that the rates of positive USDA E.coli sample tests have risen. During the summer nearly 6,000,000 pounds of beef were recalled as a result of possible E.coli contamination – last week another 21.7 million pounds of hamburger meat were recalled. So, why is Congress even considering a 2007 farm bill that would actually reduce the number of federal inspections of small meat producers? The bill would place the burden of inspections more on states and less on central government.

The Topps recall now includes a whole year’s worth of meat production, after inspectors discovered that beef which was being used for the following day’s production was not being adequately controlled.

The USDA has linked 27 reported and three confirmed illnesses to the Topps Meat frozen hamburgers. According to some officials, there already is concern in various parts of the USA regarding the upsurge in E.coli outbreaks.

During the weekend, Topps Meat Company, LLC, Elizabeth, NJ, expanded its recall. The new recall includes all Topps produced with a ‘sell by date’ or ‘best if used by date’ that falls between September 25, 2007 and September 25, 2008. Consumers can find the relevant information in the back panel of the package. All the recalled produce has a USDA establishment number of EST| 9748 on the back panel of the package and/or in the USDA legend.

Geoffrey Livermore, Vice President of Operations, Topps Meat Company, LLC, said “Because the health and safety of our consumers is our top priority, we are taking these expansive measures. Topps is continuing to work with the USDA, state departments of health, retailers and distributors to ensure the safety of our consumers. Additionally, we have augmented our internal quality control procedures with microbiologists and food safety experts. We sincerely regret any inconvenience and concerns this may cause our consumers.”

The company informs that the problem was detected through sampling carried out by the New York State Department of Health, and is the company’s first recall in its 65-year history. Affected products have been distributed to retail outlets throughout the USA. The company estimates that the vast majority of the recalled products have been consumed.

Topps Meat Company urges consumers to look for these products in their freezers as soon as possible. Anyone who finds a product marked with the above information should remove the sell-by date and UPC code and send it to: Attn: Recall Coordinator, Topps Meat Company LLC, P.O. Box 219, 1161 E. Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207 for a full refund. The remaining product should be disposed of immediately.

If you handled the recalled product you should thoroughly wash your hands and contact surfaces.

Topps Consumer Hotline concerning this recall – 888-734-0451

Here is a list of all products included in the original and expanded recall:

— 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 4 OZ (4-1), 40 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 4 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60100, 40 PCS.”
— 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 6 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60200, 27 PCS.”
— 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 8 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60300, 20 PCS.”
— 3-pound boxes of “MIKE’S 12 SEASONED BEEF PATTIES.”
— 5-pound boxes of “MIKE’S 20 SEASONED BEEF PATTIES.”
— 3-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 16 BEEF BURGERS.”
— 5-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 20 BEEF BURGERS.”
— 10-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 40 BEEF BURGERS.”
— 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI’S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 10 OZ H, 16 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI’S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI’S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI’S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI’S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
— 10 pound boxes of RASTELLI’S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 6 OZ, FLAT 27 COUNT.
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2 OZ, 80 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3.2 OZ, 50 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ, 40 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ, 32 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5.3 OZ, 30 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ, 27 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ, 23 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT, 20 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ H, 20 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “ROMA – TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 10 OZ H, 16 PIECES.”
— 3-pound bags of “SAM’S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 75/25, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
— 6-pound bags of “SAM’S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 75/25, 24 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
— 3-pound bags of “SAM’S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 80/20, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
— 3-pound bags of “SAM’S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 85/15, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (75/25), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 6 OZ, 27 COUNT.
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 10 OZ H, 16 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT ANGUS CHUCK BURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
— 3-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 16 3 OZ BURGERS.”
— 3-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.”
— 5-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.”
— 10-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 1 OZ SLIDER.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 10 OZ (PUB BURGER).”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2 OZ.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2.67 OZ.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3 OZ HOMESTYLE.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 4 OZ (4-1) HOMESTYLE.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ FLAT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ, 32 PIECES.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS 5 OZ (1/2- inch)”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (5/8- inch).”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (85/15).”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (HOMESTYLE).”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (PUB BURGER).”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ (75/25).”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 8 OZ (PUB BURGER)”
— 1.5-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 3 OZ (8 COUNT).”
— 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 3 OZ, 10 COUNT.”
— 3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 6 OZ. PUB BURGERS.”
— 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 8 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
— 3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 12 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
— 3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 16 HAMBURGERS.”
— 5-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 20 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
— 8-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 32 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
— 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS WITH FIREROASTED ONIONS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.”
— 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS WITH PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.”
— 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.”
— 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS HAMBURGERS, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3 OZ, 53 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ FLAT, 32 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ, 27 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.”
— 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection:

Hemorrhagic colitis – The patient suddenly starts feeling abdominal pain and severe cramps. Within 24 hours there is diarrhea. Eventually the diarrhea becomes watery – on some occasions the diarrhea can become bloody. Vomiting is common. Fever is possible, but less common. The incubation period is typically 3-9 days.

Most infected people get better within a week without any long term problems.

The patient needs to keep himself/herself well hydrated.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist