March 23, 2007

Tyson Food recalls ground beef
 

US meat processor Tyson Foods Inc will recall about 16,743 pounds of ground beef distributed to four US states as it may be contaminated with e.coli.

According to a press release by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service, the beef was processed at a unit of Tyson Fresh Meats in Washington on February and was sent to distributors in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

The government said the problem was discovered through routine microbiological sampling at another federally inspected facility.

The USDA said it has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products but warns that E.coli 0157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhoea and dehydration.

E. coli can cause illnesses although most of its strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals.