1,084,384 Pounds Of Ground Beef Recalled By Cargill Meat Solutions, Possible E. Coli Contamination

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Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Public Health
Article Date: 04 Nov 2007 - 10:00 PDT

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Cargill Meat Solutions is recalling about 1,084,384 pounds of ground beef after it was revealed that it could be tainted with E. coli O157:H7. The beef had been produced at the company's Wyalusing plant on October 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th and has been delivered throughout the United States.

The company says it found out about the potential E. coli contamination after the Department of Agriculture (USA) returned a positive sample of the ground beef which had been produced on October 8th.

Cargill Regional Beef President, John Keating, said "No illnesses have been associated with this product. We are working closely with the USDA to remove the product from the marketplace."

The following products are included in this recall׃

-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 3.0-pound packages of "Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1- pound packages of "Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 85/15 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 3-pound packages of "Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef Patties." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 93/7 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Century Farm 96/4 Extra Lean Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007 & 10/31/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Century Farm 85/15 Ground Beef Patties." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 93/7 Ground Beef Patties." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 80/20 Chuck Ground Beef Patties." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm 80/20 Chuck Ground Beef for Chili." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Century Farm Meatloaf Mix, Beef, Pork and Veal with Natural Flavors." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007, 10/22/2007, 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007
-- 1.25- pound packages of "Giant 75/25 Ground Beef, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 3.0- pound packages of "Giant 75/25 Ground Beef, All Natural." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.
-- 1.25-pound packages of "Giant 80/20 Ground Beef, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 3.0-pound packages of "Giant 80/20 Ground Beef, All Natural." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Giant Eagle Ground Chuck Beef Patties 80/20." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007 &10/22/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Giant Eagle Ground Beef Patties 92/8." Use by/freeze by 10/22/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Giant Eagle Ground Beef Patties 85/15 - Certified Angus Beef Brand." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007 & 10/22/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Giant Eagle Ground Round Beef Patties 85/15." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007 & 10/22/2007
-- 3.0-pound packages of "Shop Rite, 80% Lean 20% Fat, Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007
-- 1.3 and 3.0-pound packages of "Shop Rite, 85% Lean 15% Fat, Ground Beef." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Shop Rite, 93% Lean 7% Fat, Ground Beef Patties." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Shop Rite, 93% Lean 7% Fat, Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Shop Rite, 96% Lean 4% Fat, Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1.25- pound packages of "Stop & Shop 75/25 Ground Beef, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007
-- 5.0- pound packages of "Stop & Shop 75/25 Ground Beef, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.25-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 80/20 Ground Beef, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007
-- 1.25-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 85/15 Ground Beef, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1.2-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 87/13 Ground Beef Sirloin, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1.3 and 2.6 - pound packages of "Stop & Shop 90/10 Ground Beef, All Natural." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007.
-- 2.5-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 85/15 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 80/20 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 2.6-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 80/20 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 90/10 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007
-- 2.5-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 90/10 Ground Beef, All Natural." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.
-- 2.5-pound packages of "Stop & Shop 93/7 Ground Beef, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Wegmans 80/20 Ground Beef Patties." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Wegmans 90/10 Ground Beef Patties." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007 & 10/22/2007
-- 3-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats, 73/27 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats, 80/20 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 3-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats, 80/20 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats 85/15 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 2.0 and 3.0 -pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats 85/15 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 2-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats 93/7 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats 93/7 Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats 96/4 Ground Beef Extra Lean." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats 90/10 Ground Beef Sirloin Patties." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats Meatloaf Mix, Beef, Pork and Veal with Natural Flavors." Use by/freeze by10/31/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Weis Premium Meats 80/20 Ground Beef for Chili." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Meat Loaf Mix, Made with Beef, Pork, Veal, with Natural Flavors." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007 & 10/22/2007
-- 1.25-pound packages of "Meatloaf Mix, A Blend of Fresh Ground Beef, Pork & Veal, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- Various weight packages of "85/15 Coarse Ground Beef for Chili Meat, All Natural." Use by/freeze by 10/31/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Ground Beef Chuck for Chili 80/20." Use by/freeze by 10/19/2007 & 10/22/2007
-- 1.3-pound packages of "Price Rite 85% Lean, 15% Fat Ground Beef." Use by/freeze by 11/03/2007
-- 1.3 and 3.0- pound packages of "Price Rite 80% Lean, 20% Fat Ground Beef." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 & 11/03/2007.
-- 1.3 - pound packages of "Shop Rite Meat loaf mix Beef, Veal, & Pork with Natural Flavors." Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/207 or 11/03/2007.

Every label or package has the establishment number - Est. 9400 - printed inside the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers are urgently asked to check in their freezers for these products and either return or discard them.

The following states are affected by this recall׃

-- Maine
-- Maryland
-- Massachusetts
-- Michigan
-- New Jersey
-- New York
-- Ohio
-- Pennsylvania
-- Virginia

The company informs that there are various weights and varieties of ground beef, ground chuck, and ground sirloin that were sent for further processing and repackaging that will not bear the same establishment number on the packaging.

If you have any questions regarding this recall you should telephone 877-455-1034.

What is E. coli?

E. coli or Escherichia coli is one of the bacteria that line the gut (intestines) of humans and animals. It also present in raw and undercooked beef, infected water and milk. Most E. coli strains are not harmful. However, O157:H7 can sometimes cause food poisoning.

A sample of a person's feces (stool) has to be tested to confirm E.coli poisoning.

It is believed that cattle are the main source of infection.

It can spread as a result of:

-- Eating contaminated food, such as undercooked beef burgers, raw vegetables which have been washed or watered with contaminated water
-- Drinking untreated milk or dairy products
-- Contact with infected animals

Symptoms of E. coli Poisoning

-- Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
-- Abdominal pain
-- Fever (sometimes)

Symptoms usually appear about 1-3 days after infection.

http://www.cargill.com.

Written by׃ Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
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