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Recalled Topps Burgers Still Sold In New Jersey

Consumers in other states should also be cautious

November 7, 2007

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Consumers purchasing frozen hamburger patties need to remain vigilant so that they don’t purchase E. coli-tainted meat that should have been removed from stores weeks ago.

New Jersey officials say they continue to find the recalled product on sale around the state and it may well be for sale in other states as well.

New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram is advising state Attorneys General throughout the country to increase inspections of retail stores for recalled frozen hamburgers after her Division of Consumer Affairs and Department of Health and Senior Services investigators continue to find these products for sale in New Jersey.

Division of Consumer Affairs investigators, working in conjunction with state, county and municipal health inspectors, have found that Topps Meat Company frozen hamburgers recalled for potential E.coli contamination were still on sale in 12 retailers in northern and southern New Jersey this month, despite the massive recall which was launched in late September.

The investigators have found that the retailers purchased the products from Greater New York Frozen Food Distribution Company Inc., of Queens, N.Y., Associated Group Grocers of Jamaica, N.Y., Burris Foods Inc. of Milford, Delaware, or Jetro Cash and Carry of Jersey City, N.J.

“What began with the discovery of recalled hamburgers being for sale at a single store has escalated into a statewide public health issue, and potentially, a national issue as well,” Milgram said.

“It is unacceptable that consumers can walk into a store and find these recalled contaminated products on the shelf, readily available for purchase and consumption, more than one month after the voluntary recall was announced.”

The state Division of Consumer Affairs and Department of Health and Senior Services has created a joint task force to conduct store inspections and to keep the public informed.

Since the initial discovery of recalled Topps products for sale at a Union City store on October 24, ten additional stores in North Jersey and one in South Jersey were found to be selling these products.

A total of 141 boxes of recalled products were found for sale at the 12 stores.

The state has issued subpoenas to Burris Foods Inc., Jetro Cash and Carry and Greater New York Frozen Food Distribution Company Inc. seeking information about the retailers that purchased Topps products from them as well as their efforts to inform their customers of the recall.

“Our investigators are continuing to check stores for these products in coordination with health inspectors,” Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo said. “Although the recall was announced in September, this is not old news. Both retailers and consumers must be vigilant and check their freezers for these recalled items.”

The recalled products were produced by Topps with a "sell by date" or "best if used by date" that falls between September 25, 2007 and September 25, 2008. This information may be found on the back panel of the package. All recalled products will have a USDA establishment number of EST 9748, which is located on the back panel of the package and/or in the USDA legend.

The recalled products bear the Topps name and also other brand names including Butcher’s Best, Kohler Foods, Mike’s, Pathmark, Rastelli’s Fine Foods, Roma-Topps, Sam’s Choice, Sand Castle, ShopRite and West Side. The products found since October 24 all bear the Topps name.

The complete list of recalled products can be viewed on the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Web site and on the ConsumerAffairs.com site..

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 exposure could include stomach cramps and diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea may develop. E. coli disease sometimes leads to a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). If you exhibited any of these symptoms within 3 to 5 days of consuming any of the products specified above, seek medical attention immediately.

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