Kansans and Friends In Weight Loss

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Laura Reiser

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2008 – Beef Packers, Inc., a Fresno, Calif., firm, is recalling approximately 1,560 pounds of beef cheek 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 following products are subject to recall:

• 30-pound boxes of “CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, BEEF CHEEK MEAT – SM BX.”

These boxes of beef cheek meat products bear the establishment number “EST. 354” and a “PACKED ON” date of “07/02/08,” ink-jet printed on the label, however, the product was intended for further processing or for packaging as raw beef cheek meat and will likely not bear the establishment number “EST. 354” on products available for direct consumer purchase.

The problem was discovered by company microbiological testing.

These beef cheek products were shipped to distributors in Fresno, Modesto, Santa Rosa and Vernon, Calif.

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

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company’s Consumer Line at 1-800-545-1679. Media with questions should contact company Director of Communications Mark Klein at (952) 742-6211.

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.

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

WASHINGTON, Jul 3, 2008 – The Kroger Co., a Cincinnati, Ohio, retailer is expanding its June 25 recall to include an undetermined amount of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The recall is being expanded based on the ongoing epidemiological and traceback investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak.

The recall includes ground beef products packaged in Styrofoam trays and wrapped in clear cellophane, which were available at “in-store” service counters, with various sell-by dates between May 17 and July 5, at the following Kroger retail establishments:

• Fred Meyer - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/05/08.”
• QFC - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/05/08.”
• Kroger stores (except in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Knoxville, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Kroger Mid-Atlantic division - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/19/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Fry’s - “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Ralph’s - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Smith’s - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Baker’s - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/17/08″ and “07/03/08″
• King Soopers - Product with “Sell By” dates between “6/20/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• City Market - Product with “Sell By” dates between “06/20/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Hilander - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Owen’s - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Pay Less - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Scott’s - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/21/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Dillons - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/17/08″ and “07/03/08.”
• Gerbes - Product with “Sell By” dates between “05/17/08″ and “07/03/08.”

The following product is also subject to recall:

• 16-ounce packages of “Private Selection Natural Ground Beef,” with “Sell By” dates between “07/11/08″ and “07/21/08.” The product was distributed to all Kroger retail establishments, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Baker’s, Smith’s and Fry’s, including Kroger Mid-Atlantic and stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard or return the ground beef products for a refund.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, and only consume ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked temperature of 160º F. The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature.

The June 25 recall was initiated after epidemiological investigations and a case control study conducted by the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that there is an association between the ground beef products and foodborne illnesses. Currently, there are 41 illnesses reported in Michigan (21) and Ohio (20). The illnesses were linked through the epidemiological investigation by their pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern, or DNA fingerprint, found in PulseNet, a database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.

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

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the Kroger Consumer Hotline at (800) 632-6900. Media with questions about the recall should contact company Director of Corporate Affairs Meghan Glynn at (513) 762-1304.

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.

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2008 - Nebraska Beef, Ltd., an Omaha, Neb., establishment is expanding its June 30 recall to include all beef manufacturing trimmings and other products intended for use in raw ground beef produced between May 16 and June 26, totaling approximately 5.3 million pounds, that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

This recall is being expanded based on the ongoing epidemiological and traceback investigations of a foodborne illness outbreak.

FSIS has concluded that the production practices employed by Nebraska Beef, Ltd. are insufficient to effectively control E. coli O157:H7 in their beef products that are intended for grinding. The products subject to recall may have been produced under insanitary conditions.

The products subject to recall were further processed into ground beef at other firms, and will likely not bear the establishment number “EST 19336″ on products made available for direct consumer purchase.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, and only consume ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160º F. The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company’s Vice President of Administration James Timmerman at (402) 733-0456. Media with questions about the recall should contact company representative William Lamson at (402) 397-7300.

The epidemiological investigations and a case control study conducted by the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that there is an association between the ground beef products and 40 illnesses reported in Michigan (21) and Ohio (19). The illnesses were linked through the epidemiological investigation and by their PFGE pattern, or DNA fingerprint, found in PulseNet, a database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Also as a result of the investigation, on June 25 FSIS announced a recall of ground beef products sold at Kroger retail establishments in Michigan and in Central and Northwestern Ohio.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.

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.