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5.7 Million Pounds Of Beef Recalled

E. coli Fears in Western Beef

June 11, 2007

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A recall of beef tainted with the E. coli bacteria significantly escalated over the weekend, as federal safety inspectors said up to 5.7 million pounds of product should be taken off store shelves.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the follow-up to last week’s recall of 75,000 pounds of beef produced by California-based United Food Group.

The government said the United Food Group Recall is being expanded to include beef with sell-by dates from April 6 through April 20, 2007. The affected beef was distributed in eleven mostly western states.

The problem, however, is that practically none of the affected meat is still in grocery stores. Nearly all of it has either been consumed or is sitting in unsuspecting consumers’ freezers.

So far more than a dozen consumers have been reported sickened by the tainted meat, though its likely that many others have fallen ill, but are officially not listed as victims. Health officials say none of the official cases so far have resulted in serious illness or deaths.

The FSIS says the recall is being expanded out of an “abundance of caution” following a positive test of fresh ground beef subject to this recall provided by a patient in Arizona. The tested product was sold under a major grocery store label, as opposed to a pre-packaged chub shipped from the recalling firm.

An investigation carried out by the California Department of Health Services and the Colorado Department of Health, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preceded the recall of June 3. Illnesses occurred in Arizona (6), California (3), Colorado (2), Idaho (1), Utah (1) and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates ranged between April 25 and May 18. All patients have recovered.

The FSIS says it is important that consumers look for and return recalled products if they find them.

The fresh and frozen ground beef products subject to recall were produced between April 6 and April 20 and were shipped to retail stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

In addition to specific products bearing labels from the manufacturer, some fresh ground beef, from 73 percent lean to 96 percent lean, was shipped in bulk and sold under different retail brand names.

Several types of fresh ground beef patties, from 6.25 ounces to 7.25 ounces, were also shipped to retailers and sold under retail brand names. Consumers in the states of distribution should check with their local retailers to determine whether they may have purchased any of the products subject to recall that were marketed in this way.

The labels of the products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 1241” inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. All of the products bear a use-by/sell-by date between “APR/15/07” and “May/07/07,” a freeze-by date between “APR/23/07” and “May/07/07,” or a production date between “APR/06/07” and “APR/20/07.” The frozen ground beef patty products bear a sell-by date between “08/06/07” and “01/20/08.”

Fresh Products

The following FROZEN ground beef products are subject to recall:

• 1.4- and 3-pound trays of “MORAN’S 75/25 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1.3-pound trays of ““MORAN’S All Natural HAMBURGER PATTIES 80/20.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ground beef.”
• 3-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ‘chili grind’ ground beef.”
• 1-, 1.33- and 3-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural HAMBURGER PATTIES 85/15.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 90/10 ground sirloin.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural SIRLOIN PATTIES 90/10.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural HAMBURGER PATTIES 96/4.”
• 3-pound chubs of “Miller’s 80/20 ground beef.”
• 2-pound chubs of “Miller’s 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Miller’s 96/4 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Miller’s 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Miller’s 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Miller’s 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays “Miller’s 85/15 ‘chili grind’ ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Miller’s 85/15 ground beef patties.”
• 1-pound chubs of “BASHAS 73/27 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 73/27 ground beef.”
• 3-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1- and 3-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 80/20 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 91/9 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 95/5 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 95/5 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 96/4 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 96/4 ground beef patties.”
• 3-pound trays of “FIRST STREET BUTCHER SHOP 80/20 ground beef.”
• 3-pound trays of “FIRST STREET BUTCHER SHOP 80/20 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25- and 3-pound trays of “Fry’s 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1. 3-pound trays of “Fry’s 80/20 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fry’s 85/15 ground Angus.”
• 1.3-pound trays of “Fry’s 85/15 ground Angus patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fry’s 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Steakhouse Choice 85/15 ground Angus.”
• 1.3-pound trays of “Steakhouse Choice 85/15 ground Angus patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Sirloin 85/15.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Round 85/15.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef 80/20.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef 91/9.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef 93/7.”
• 1.5-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef Patties 80/20.”
• 1.5-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef Patties 91/9.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Angus Ground Beef 85/15.”
• 1. 5-pound trays of “Fresh Angus Ground Beef Patties 85/15.”

Frozen Products

The following FRESH ground beef products are subject to recall:

• 1.4- and 3-pound trays of “MORAN’S 75/25 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1.3-pound trays of ““MORAN’S All Natural HAMBURGER PATTIES 80/20.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ground beef.”
• 3-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ‘chili grind’ ground beef.”
• 1-, 1.33- and 3-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural HAMBURGER PATTIES 85/15.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 90/10 ground sirloin.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural SIRLOIN PATTIES 90/10.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “MORAN’S All Natural HAMBURGER PATTIES 96/4.”
• 3-pound chubs of “Miller’s 80/20 ground beef.”
• 2-pound chubs of “Miller’s 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Miller’s 96/4 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Miller’s 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Miller’s 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Miller’s 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays “Miller’s 85/15 ‘chili grind’ ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Miller’s 85/15 ground beef patties.”
• 1-pound chubs of “BASHAS 73/27 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 73/27 ground beef.”
• 3-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1- and 3-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 85/15 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “Inter-American Product 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 80/20 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 91/9 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 95/5 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 95/5 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 96/4 ground beef.”
• 1-pound trays of “Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop 96/4 ground beef patties.”
• 3-pound trays of “FIRST STREET BUTCHER SHOP 80/20 ground beef.”
• 3-pound trays of “FIRST STREET BUTCHER SHOP 80/20 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25- and 3-pound trays of “Fry’s 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1. 3-pound trays of “Fry’s 80/20 ground beef patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fry’s 85/15 ground Angus.”
• 1.3-pound trays of “Fry’s 85/15 ground Angus patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fry’s 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Steakhouse Choice 85/15 ground Angus.”
• 1.3-pound trays of “Steakhouse Choice 85/15 ground Angus patties.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Sirloin 85/15.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Round 85/15.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef 80/20.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef 91/9.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef 93/7.”
• 1.5-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef Patties 80/20.”
• 1.5-pound trays of “Fresh Ground Beef Patties 91/9.”
• 1.25-pound trays of “Fresh Angus Ground Beef 85/15.”
• 1. 5-pound trays of “Fresh Angus Ground Beef Patties 85/15.”

Complete List

The following list is inclusive of products included in both the June 3 and June 6 recall actions:
• 5-pound chubs of “1ST STREET 73/27 ground beef.”
• 3-pound chubs of “BASHAS 73/27 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “SIR BASHA 90/10 ground beef.”
• 5-pound chubs of “INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCT 73/27 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 80/20 ground beef.”
• 2-pound chubs of “INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 93/7 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “STATER BROS. MARKET 73/27 ground beef.”
• 3-pound chubs of “STATER BROS. MARKETS 73/27 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 73/27 ground beef.”
• 3-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 73/27 ground beef.”
• 5-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 73/27 ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S All Natural, 73/27 fine ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 73/27 coarse ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 75/25 fine ground beef.”
• 3-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 80/20 ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 80/20 ground chuck.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 80/20 coarse ground chuck.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 80/20 fine ground chuck.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S All Natural 81/19 fine ground beef.”
• 2-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ground beef.”
• 3-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 85/15 coarse ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 85/15 fine ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 ground round.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 coarse ground round.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 coarse ground sirloin.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S All Natural 85/15 fine ground sirloin.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 90/10 fine ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 90/10 ground sirloin.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 90/10 coarse ground sirloin.”
• 2-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 93/7 ground beef.”
• 2-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 93/7 fine ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 93/7 coarse ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S 93/7 fine ground sirloin.”
• 5-pound chubs of “MORAN’S 95/5 fine ground beef.”
• 1-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 96/4 ground beef.”
• 2-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 96/4 ground beef.”
• 10-pound casings of “MORAN’S All Natural 96/4 fine ground beef.”
• 5-pound chubs of “MORAN’S All Natural 96/4 fine ground beef.”

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