June 6, 2007

E. coli results to another US beef recall

Another US meatpacker has withdrawn 75,000 of beef in the market after reports of dozen people were hit by a deadly strain of E. coli in US and Canada. However, details are still indefinite on the gravity of the illnesses and no reports of deaths were linked to the contaminated beef.

California-based United Food Group LLC said on Monday (June 4) that it recalled the tainted beef products that had already been distributed to eleven states.

The action followed reports that samples tested in California and Colorado revealed traces of E. coli O257:H7, the deadly strain that also cropped up during last fall¡¯s fresh spinach recall.

The contaminated beef products include 10-pound casings and five, two and one-pound chubs of Moran's All-Natural fine ground beef and sirloin, Inter-American Products ground beef and three-pound chubs of ground beef.

There was no estimate as to how much had already been purchased by consumers.

United Food Group delivers its products to a number of supermarket chains, including Albertsons and Save Mart. A spokesman for Save Mart said consumers should return the tainted beef to the store where they purchased it. The products carry a sell-by date of May 6, 2007.

E.coli O157:H7 is one of the more dangerous strains of the food bacteria, causing severe diarrhoea and dehydration and can reduce or stop kidney function and result in death in worst cases.

People at all ages and with weak immune systems are most at risk. The Centres for Disease Control is investigating the source of the contamination.