WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2002—EMMPAK Foods Inc., doing business as Peck Meats, a
Milwaukee, Wis., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately
568,000 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 company is taking this action based on the
results of a third party microbiological laboratory sample.
FSIS suspended operations at this establishment
on Oct. 2 and continues to investigate the company’s production and shipment
of adulterated product. The suspension will continue until the establishment
can demonstrate an effective program for controlling pathogens, including
E. coli O157:H7.
"Consumers need to be aware of this recall," said
Dr. Garry L. McKee, FSIS administrator. "I strongly encourage purchasers of
ground beef to check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled
product. If consumers are in possession of the recalled product they should
return it to the point of purchase."
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.
Media with questions about the recall may contact
Mark Klein, director of communications for EMMPAK, at (414) 978-6666.
Consumers with questions about the recall may
contact the EMMPAK Consumer Hotline at (877) 817-7622.
Consumers with other food safety questions can
phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. 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.
The products were produced on September 23 and
distributed to retail stores and other institutions nationwide.
All of the products subject to recall bear the
establishment code "EST. 20654" inside the USDA seal of inspection. The
products subject to recall are:
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 8% FAT." Each package
also bears one of the following codes: "8659206," "8659204," or "8659200."
Each package also bears the sell-by date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES, CONTAINS 20% FAT."
Each package also bears one of the following codes, "8658106" or
"8658100." Each package also bears the sell-by date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "GROUND BEEF ROUND PATTIES, 100% BEEF, CONTAINS
15% FAT." Each package also bears one of the following codes, "8685706,"
or "8685700." Each package also bears the sell-by date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "LEAN GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 4% FAT." Each
package also bears the code "8659606." Each package also bears the sell-by
date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES, CONTAINS 20% FAT."
Each package also bears the code "8658213." Each package also bears the
sell-by date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 27% FAT." Each package
bears one of the following codes: "8657306," "8657304," or "8657300." Each
package also bears the sell-by date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "GROUND BEEF CHUCK, CONTAINS 20% FAT." Each
package bears one of the following codes: "8658006," "8658004," "8658002."
Each package also bears the sell-by date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "GROUND BEEF ROUND, CONTAINS 15% FAT." Each
package bears one of the following codes: "8658506," "8658504," or
"8658500." Each package also bears the sell-by date "10.2.02."
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "Lean Ground Beef Patties, 100% BEEF." Each
package also bears the code "8619306.".
- 1 to 5 lb. packages of "Ground Beef Patties, 100% BEEF." Each package
also bears the code "8685106."
- 80-lb. boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, FRESH BULK GROUND BEEF, 8/10 FINE,
950." Also on each box is the code "7700950."
- 40-lb. boxes "Wis-Pak Foods, FRESH BULK GROUND BEEF, 4/10 FINE, 992."
Also on each box is the code "7700992."
- 20-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 1191949,
2/10." Also on each box is the code "7700393."
- 20-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 7222201,
2/10." Also on each box is the code "7701610."
- 20-lb boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 5829940,
2/10." Also on each box is the code "7701751."
- 20-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 1003516,
2/10." Also on each box is the code "7701421."
- 80-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2209393,
8/10." Also on each box is the code 7702680."
- 20-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2008217,
2/10." Also on each box is the code "7702620."
- 20-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2513778,
4/5." Also on each box is the code "7702610."
- 20-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2008225,
2/10." Also on each box is the code "7702720."
- 20-lb. boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC BEEF, GROUND BEEF BULK, 7223761,
2/10." Also on each box is the code "7701710."
- 40-lb. boxes of "PECK CERTIFIED GROUND BEEF CHUCK, ANGUS, 83/17." Also
on each box is the code "8609900."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 93/07." Also on each
box is the code "8616200."
- 60-lb. boxes of "SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 91/09." Also on
each box is the code "8615306."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF ROUND FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 85/15." Also on
each box is the code "8600504."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 81/19." Also
on each box is the code "8600605."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 81/19." Also on each
box is the code "8616600."
- 60-lb. boxes of "PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF CHUCK, 10 LB. CHUBS,
86/14." Also on each box is the code "8608600."
- 40-lb. boxes of "BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 90/10." Also
on each box is the code "8600401."
- 40-lb. boxes of "BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 92/08." Also
on each box is the code "8600406."
- 40-lb. boxes of "BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 93/07." Also on each
box is the code "8635300."
- 40-lb. boxes of "BEEF ROUND FINE GRIND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 95/05." Also on
each box is the code "8634500."
- 40-lb. boxes of "PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF ROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS,
95/05." Also on each box is the code "8616400."
- 40-lb. boxes of "PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN, 10 LB. CHUBS,
95/05." Also on each box is the code "8615500."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 75/25." Also on each
box is the code "8600103."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 73/27." Also on each
box is the code "8606400."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF FINE GROUND 5 LB. CHUBS, 73/27." Also on each
box is the code "8600801." Each package bears the sell by date "10-09-02."
- 60-lb. boxes of "BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND, 5 LB. CHUBS, 80/20." Also on
each box is the code "8658000." Each package bears the sell by date
"10-09-02."
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