| Recall Release |
CLASS I RECALL |
| FSIS-RC-041-2007 |
HEALTH RISK: HIGH |
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2007 � Impero Foods & Meats, Inc., a Baltimore, Md. establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 65 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture�s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
The products subject to recall include:
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Preparing Ground Beef For Safe Consumption
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit www.fsis.usda.gov
Although the product(s) being recalled should be returned to the point of purchase, consumers preparing other ground beef products should heed the following advice.
Consumers should only eat ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe temperature of 160 °F. When a ground beef patty is cooked to 160 °F throughout, it can be safe and juicy, regardless of color.
The only way to be sure a ground beef patty is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use an accurate food thermometer.
Color is not a reliable indicator that ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7.
Eating a pink or red ground beef patty without first verifying that the safe temperature of 160 °F has been reached is a significant risk factor for foodborne illness.
Thermometer use to ensure proper cooking temperature is especially important for those who cook or serve ground beef patties to people most at risk for foodborne illness because E. coli O157:H7 can lead to serious illness or even death. Those most at risk include young children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems. |
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- 10- and 15-pound shrink-wrapped bags of �IMPERO FOODS & MEAT INC. GROUND BEEF.� Each label bears the establishment number �Est. 10857� inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The ground beef products were produced on Sept. 25, and were distributed to restaurants in Maryland.
The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling. FSIS has not received any reports of illness.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact company President Salvatore Pinna at (443) 695-5751.
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.
Consumers with food safety questions can �Ask Karen,� the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. |
