November 26, 2007 Spanish
American Foods Group, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is recalling nearly 96,000 pounds of various coarse and fine ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a virulent, and increasingly common strain of the bacteria.
The problem was discovered through an investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health after it received reports of two illnesses. After being contacted by authorities, the company issued the voluntary recall.
The following products are subject to recall:
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 73/27." Each shipping label bears a product code of "65000."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 75/25." Each shipping label bears a product code of "65800."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND 90/10." Each shipping label bears a product code of "66000."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 80/20." Each shipping label bears a product code of "66400."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 75/25." Each shipping label bears a product code of "19900."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 73/27." Each shipping label bears a product code of "20100."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND 82/18." Each shipping label bears a product code of "20600."
- Bulk weight packages of "CHOP BEEF STEAK, FINE GRIND "86/14." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30000."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND 92/08." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30400."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF ROUND, FINE GROUND 87/13." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30200."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 80/20." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30700."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND 82/18." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31400."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 93/07." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31600."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 73/27." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31700."
- Bulk weight packages of "BEEF MODIFIED, FINE GROUND 93/07." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31900."
Each shipping label bears the establishment number "Est. 18076" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The products subject to recall were distributed for further processing and repackaging and will not bear the recalling firm's establishment number on the package. As the use-by date for products subject to this recall may have expired, consumers can contact their retailers to ask if they received any of these products and if so, consumers are urged to look in their freezers for these products and return or discard them if found.
The ground beef products subject to recall were produced on Oct. 10, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments and distributors in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. It is particularly dangerous to the very young, seniors and persons with impaired immune systems.
