WASHINGTON, March
11, 2003—Green Bay Dressed Beef, doing
business as American Foods Group, a
Sharonville, Ohio, establishment, is
voluntarily recalling approximately 106,000
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 are 1 to 3 lb. trays of:
- "Kroger, BEEF GROUND, GROUND SIRLOIN
PATTIES."
- "Kroger, BEEF GROUND, GROUND ROUND
PATTIES."
- "Kroger, BEEF GROUND, GROUND CHUCK
PATTIES."
- "Kroger, BEEF GROUND, GROUND BEEF
PATTIES."
- "Kroger, KROGER BETTER CHOICE LEAN
BEEF."
- "Kroger, LEAN GROUND BEEF, 91/09."
- "Kroger, GROUND BEEF CHUCK, 80/20."
Each product bears the
establishment number "EST. 20983" inside the
USDA seal of inspection. In addition, each
label bears the packaging code "3024" or
"3025" below the Kroger brand logo.
Also subject to recall are 1
to 3 lb. trays of:
The products were produced on
January 24 and distributed to retail stores in
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan,
Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
and West Virginia.
"Because of the potential
hazard of foodborne illness from consumption
of meat products contaminated with harmful
bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7,
consumers should check to see if they have the
recalled product and return it to the point of
purchase," said Dr. Garry L. McKee, FSIS
administrator.
This action is being taken
based on the results of laboratory samples
collected by the state of Ohio in response to
several illnesses in that state. The recalled
product has not been linked to E.coli-related
illnesses there. 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.
Media with questions about the
recall may contact Jim Mulhern, company media
representative, at (202) 496-2468. Consumers
with questions about the recall may contact
Sally VandeHei, company consumer
representative, at (800) 829-2838.
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.
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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
1-800-535-4555 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. |