WASHINGTON, August 23, 2003—J&B Meats Corporation, a Coal Valley, Ill.,
establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 76,000 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.
The products subject to recall each
bear the date code "5630053" and establishment code "EST. 5712" inside the
USDA seal of inspection. The products subject to recall are:
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
TENDER & JUICY BEEF PATTIES" bearing the code "11344."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "JB0104."
24.5-lb. cases of "KEEP REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF
PATTIE" bearing the code "8218."
12-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "1140."
20-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF" bearing the code "8020."
20-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF" bearing the code "8020EC."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
BEEF STEAK BURGER" bearing the code "J1002."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
BEEF STEAK BURGER" bearing the code "J1003."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
BEEF STEAK BURGER" bearing the code "J1004."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
J-BURGER SEASONED BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "11372TF."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
J-BURGER SEASONED BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "11373TF."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
J-BURGER SEASONED BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "11374TF."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
BEEF PATTIE WHOPPER" bearing the code "11364AW."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "1136EC."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
GROUND BEEF PATTIES WHOPPER" bearing the code "JB0704W."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "11323."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
100% PURE BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "11393."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
TENDER & JUICY BEEF PATTIES" bearing the code "11343."
12-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED HEART OF AMERICA CHUCK PATTIE GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIE"
bearing the code "4002HA."
20-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF" bearing the code "8515."
12-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "1142."
12-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "1143."
12-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "1144."
12-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "1144R."
20-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
GROUND BEEF" bearing the code "8020ECF."
20-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
BEEF PATTIE MIX" bearing the code "8020PF."
40-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP
REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF COARSE GRIND" bearing the code "291101."
10-lb. cases of "J&B BRAND MEATS, CORP., KEEP FROZEN
GROUND BEEF PATTIE" bearing the code "11384."
The products were produced on May 30
and distributed to wholesale establishments nationwide.
An E. coli O157:H7 illness in
Wisconsin triggered an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Health.
Sampling of a J&B Meats Corporation ground beef product was performed by the
Wisconsin Department of Health and the positive E. coli O157:H7
results were reported to FSIS on Aug. 22. As a result, J&B Meats Corporation
initiated a voluntary product recall. At present, there is no definitive
link implicating the recalled products to any illnesses. However, FSIS is
continuing its investigation. Anyone concerned about an illness should
contact a physician.
Consumers and media with questions
about the recall can contact Jeff Jobe, company president, at (309)
799-7341.
Consumers with food safety questions
can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (888) MPHotline.
The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0
a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. And 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 |
PREPARING GROUND BEEF FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION
USDA Meat and
Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHotline or visit 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. |