WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2002—GFI
American Inc., a Minneapolis, Minn., establishment, is voluntarily recalling
approximately 717,000 pounds of 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 ground beef products being recalled include:
- 10 lb. boxes of "BEEF FRITTERS FOR CHICKEN FRIED FRITTERS" bearing the
product code "5203" and the lot number "L33011;"
- 10 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES FOR SALISBURY STEAKS, CHOPPED AND
FORMED" bearing the product code "5504" and the lot number "L32914;"
- 10 lb. boxes of "BREADED VEAL STEAKS, BEEF ADDED - CHOPPED & FORMED"
bearing the product code "6049" and the lot number "L32943;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES, ONE POUND PORTIONS" bearing
the product code "2202" and the lot number "L33019;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2740" and the lot number "L32967;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2742" and the lot number "L32966;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2220" and the lot number "L32953;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2729" and the lot number "LOT#32963;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2732" and the lot number "L33039;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES, ONE POUND PORTIONS" bearing
the product code "2002" and the lot number "L33072;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2029" and the lot number "L33075;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES WITH SEASONING" bearing the product code
"38307" and the lot number "L33099;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIE" bearing the product code
"2036" and the lot number "L32925;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES WITH SEASONING" bearing the product code
"38253" and the lot number "L33382;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2038" and the lot number "LOT# 33369;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES WITH SEASONING" bearing the product code
"38244" and the lot number "L32919;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2238" and the lot number "L33021;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF SIRLOIN STEAKS, CHOPPED AND FORMED"
bearing the product code "2539" and the lot number "L32891;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES WITH BEEF" bearing the
product code "2541" and the lot number "L32946;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES WITH BEEF" bearing the
product code "2531" and the lot number "L32969;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES WITH BEEF ADDED" bearing the
product code "2538" and the lot number "L32892;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES WITH BEEF" bearing the
product code "2530" and the lot number "L32949;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2229" and the lot number "LOT # 33018;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2042" and the lot number "LOT #32974;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code "8049" and the
lot number "L33101;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIE BLOCKS" bearing the product code "8422"
and the lot number "L33103;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2044" and the lot number "L32951;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIE" bearing the product code
"2049" and the lot number "LOT. # 3292;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "BEEF FRITTERS FOR CHICKEN FRIED FRITTERS" bearing the
product code "5808" and the lot number "L33001;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "CRACKER BARREL'S 100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing
the product code "2629" and the lot number "L32921;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "CRACKER BARREL'S 100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing
the product code "2658" and the lot number "L32934;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2066" and the lot number "LOT #33379;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "100% PURE BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2069 and the lot number "LOT 32905;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2752" and the lot number "L32965;"
- 20 lb. boxes of "Famous Dave's 100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing the
product code "2829" and the lot number "L33015" or "L32895;"
- 25 lb. boxes of "SEASONED BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES WITH BEEF" bearing the
production code "2521" and the lot number "L32945;"
- 30 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES WITH SEASONING" bearing the product code
"38265" and the lot number "L33100;"
- 30 lb. boxes of "100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2283" and the lot number "L32950;"
- 36 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code "8446" and the
lot number "L33384;"
- 36 lb. boxes of "100% GROUND BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code
"2246" and the lot number "L32954;"
- 36 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES FOR SALISBURY STEAKS, CHOPPED AND
FORMED" bearing the product code "6994" and the lot number "L32918;" and,
- 36 lb. boxes of "BEEF PATTIES" bearing the product code "8046" and the
lot number "L33385."
Each package also bears the establishment code
"EST. 2368" inside the USDA seal of inspection.
The ground beef was produced on June 25-29, July
1-3, and July 16 and distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions
nationwide.
"Because of the potential hazard of foodborne
illness from consumption of meat products contaminated with harmful bacteria
such as E. coli O157:H7, diners may want to ask if their meals
contain the recalled product," said William J. Hudnall, acting FSIS
administrator.
GFI American Inc., notified FSIS that the
contaminated products had been distributed into commerce.
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.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an
illness should contact a physician.
Consumers with questions about the recall may
contact Stephanie Golden, customer service manager, at (612) 872-6262. Media
with questions may contact Joe Goldeberger, vice president of sales and
marketing, at (612) 872-6262.
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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