WASHINGTON, July 3, 2000--Top-Kut Meats, Inc., a Battle Creek, Mich., firm
is voluntarily recalling an additional 1,800 pounds of ground beef and 60 pounds of ground
pork sausage that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture announced today. Todays action is an expansion of the July 2 recall of
ground beef. Five and ten pound bags of ground beef were shipped in boxes labeled with
the establishment number "10024" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The boxes
were also labeled with the product name, "Top-Kut Meats Ground Beef," and the
code "262" or "254." The ground beef was produced on June 27 and June
29. The boxes of recalled ground beef were distributed to restaurants in the following
Michigan counties: Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Eaton, Jackson, and Branch.
Recalled ground beef was also sold at the plants retail store, which is located
at 15080 Beadle Lake Road. These packages have no identifying markings. Customers who have
purchased ground beef from this location should return it.
The pork sausage was produced on June 29 and distributed to one restaurant in Calhoun
County. Packages are labeled "Top-Kut Meats" "PORK SAUSAGE (FOR
GRAVY)," have the establishment number "P-l0024" inside the mark of
inspection and are of varying weights.
Consumers may wish to ask at the restaurant where they buy meals containing ground beef
or pork sausage if the restaurant received any of the recalled products.
"Because of the potential for foodborne illness, we want consumers to be aware of
the recall," said Margaret OK. Glavin, FSIS associate administrator.
"Also, consumers who may have purchased product from the plants retail store
should check their refrigerators or freezers."
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly pathogen 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.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.
Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Tim Gunning, owner of
Top-Kut Meats, Inc., at (616) 965-2282.
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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