North Dakota Firm Recalls Beef Products For Possible E. coli O157:H7

WASHINGTON, August 8, 2003— Quality Boneless Beef Co. Inc., doing business as Quality Meats and Seafood, a West Fargo, N.D., establishment, is voluntarily expanding a recall to include approximately 659,000 pounds of fresh and frozen ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. On August 7, the company recalled approximately 332,000 pounds of fresh and frozen ground beef products.

The products subject to recall bear the establishment code "EST. 2063" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced before August 1, 2003, and distributed to restaurants, institutions and grocery stores in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The following products were distributed to grocery stores. The products subject to recall are:

• "PURE GROUND BEEF PATTIES, 80% LEAN, 12-4 OZ., NET WT. 3 LB."

• "PAPA’S, 20 Quarter Pound BEEF PATTIES, NET WT. 5 LBS."

• "PAPA’S, 20 Quarter Pound PORK PATTIES, NET WT. 5 LBS."

• "PAPA’S, 20 Quarter Pound PIZZA PATTIES, NET WT. 5 LBS."

• "Chef’s Preferred, 20 Quarter Pound, BEEF PATTIES, 100% PURE GROUND BEEF, NO FILLERS, NO PRESERVATIVES, NET WT. 80 OZ. (5 LBS.)"

The following products were distributed to restaurants and institutions. These products subject to recall are 60 lb. boxes, containing six 10-lb. chubs of:

• "X-LEAN, BEEF PATTY MIX, INGREDIENTS: BEEF, BEEF HEARTS, 101."

• "100% PURE BEEF BULK, 110."

• "X-LEAN, 100% PURE BEEF BULK, 120."

• "OUR VERY BEST, BEEF PATTY MIX, 130."

Also subject to recall are 30 lb. boxes, distributed to restaurants and institutions, that contain six 5 lb. chubs of:

• "107, 115, X-LEAN, 100% PURE BEEF PATTIES."

The final products subject to recall, which were also distributed to restaurants and institutions, are 10 lb. boxes of:

• "OUR FINEST PORK SAUSAGE PATTIES."

The recall was initiated because an epidemiological investigation suggests that the recalled product may be linked to one E. coli O157:H7 illness in North Dakota. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Skip Wetzstein, company vice president, at (701) 282-0202.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov

Although the product being recalled should be returned to the place of purchase, consumers preparing other ground beef products should heed the following advice.

Consumers should only eat ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe temperature of 160 ºF. When a ground beef patty is cooked to 160 ºF throughout, it can be safe and juicy, regardless of color.

The only way to be sure a ground beef patty is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use an accurate digital instant-read thermometer.

Color is not a reliable indicator that ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7.

Eating a pink or red ground beef patty without first verifying that the safe temperature of 160 ºF has been reached is a significant risk factor for foodborne illness.

Thermometer use to ensure proper cooking temperature is especially important for those who cook or serve ground beef patties to people most at risk for foodborne illness because E. coli O157:H7 can lead to serious illness or even death. Those most at risk include young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.