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United Beef Recall Expanded

E. coli Fears in Western Beef

June 8, 2007

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United Food Group, which earlier this week recalled 75,000 pounds of beef suspected of E. coli contamination, has expanded the recall to cover 445,000 pounds, the company said.

The beef was sold to grocery stores in eleven mostly western states.

The recall followed reports that samples tested in California and Colorado revealed traces of E. coli O257:H7, the deadly strain that also cropped up during last fall’s fresh spinach recall.

The affected beef products include 10-pound casings and five, two and one-pound chubs of Moran's All-Natural fine ground beef and sirloin, Inter-American Products ground beef and three-pound chubs of ground beef.

Illnesses traced to the tainted beef have been reported in five states.

A spokesman for United Food Group says the recalled beef should have been removed from grocery cases by now, but said some of it may still be in consumers’ freezers.

The company said consumers who purchased ground beef from Albertsons stores in packaging bearing the names Moran's, Inter-American, Stater Bros., Basha's and 1st Street should check labeling for specific code information.

The products included in the expanded recall are labeled "EST. 1241" inside the USDA inspection mark. The packages have "sell by" dates of April 29, 2007, and April 30, 2007, and a "produced on" date of April 13, 2007.

E.coli O157:H7 is one of the more virulent strains of the food bacteria, causing severe diarrhea and dehydration. In the worst cases, it can reduce or stop kidney function and result in death.

The very old, the very young, and people with weak immune systems are most at risk. The Centers for Disease Control is investigating the source of the contamination.

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