WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Green Bay
Dressed Beef Inc., a Green Bay, Wisconsin firm also doing business as
American Foods Group, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1.1 million
pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli
O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection
Service announced today.
The ground beef products being recalled
were produced on Nov. 2 and 3.
Ground beef products for further
processing were distributed to grocery stores in the following states:
Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Florida.
In addition, retail packages identifiable
to consumers included the following:
-
"B BAR
BRAND 100% PURE GROUND BEEF" in frozen 3-pound tubes with a sell
by date of "NOV/02/01," bearing the establishment number
Est. 410. This product was distributed to Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and
Wisconsin.
-
"KROGER
GROUND BEEF 75/25", "KROGER GROUND BEEF ROUND 85/15",
and "KROGER GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN 90/10" in 1.5-pound tray
packages with a production code of 0308, bearing the establishment
number Est. 18076. This product was distributed to Memphis, Tennessee.
-
"KROGER
GROUND BEEF", "KROGER GROUND CHUCK", "KROGER
GROUND ROUND", and "KROGER GROUND SIRLOIN" in 1, 3, and
5-pound tubes with a sell by date of "NOV/20/00," bearing
the establishment number Est. 410. This product was distributed to
Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Virginia.
"Because of the potential hazard of
foodborne illness from consumption of meat products contaminated with
harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, I urge consumers who have
purchased the suspect product not to eat it and return it to the place of
purchase," said Thomas Billy, FSIS administrator. "USDA is
informing the public so consumers who may have purchased and stored the
product in their refrigerators or freezers can know to check. Purchasers
of ground beef packaged at the retail level may wish to ask stores if they
received the recalled ground beef."
E. coli
O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea
and dehydration. The very young, the elderly, and persons with compromised
immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.
Based on an epidemiological investigation
led by the state of Minnesota and production records gathered by FSIS
compliance officers over the weekend, FSIS asked American Foods Group to
conduct the recall and they agreed.
Consumers and media with questions about
the recall may contact Sally Vande Hei with American Foods Group at
920-436-6523.
Consumers with food safety questions can
phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The
hotline can be reached from 10 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
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. |