June 18, 2007

E. coli fears prompt Tyson Foods to recall ground beef

US meat processor Tyson Fresh Meats is voluntarily recalling retail packages of ground beef produced at its plant in Sherman, Texas as a sample analysed by the company was found to contain E. coli O157:H7.

Though there have been no illnesses reported or associated with any packages of ground beef produced by the Sherman plant, the company is conducting the voluntary recall on June 14 as a precautionary measure.

The product withdrawal involves 40,440 pounds of ground beef, which is sold in pre-packaged trays that are placed directly into the meat case by the retailer. The product was produced on June 2. Each package bears the establishment code EST 244S as well as a "use or freeze by" code date of June 13, 2007.

Wal-Mart Inc., has been contacted and has removed the product from sale, and is destroying all of the recalled ground beef still in its possession at its distribution centres and stores. The affected product was distributed to Wal-Mart stores in 12 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.