November 5, 2007

 

Cargill issues recall for 1 million pounds of beef

 

 

Cargill Inc. of Minneapolis is recalling more than 1 million pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli.

 

No illnesses have been reported, said John Keating, president of Cargill Regional Beef.

 

The recall involves nearly 60 varieties of ground beef product, including ground beef and ground beef patties.

 

Each package or label bears the establishment number "Est. 9400". As the use/freeze-by dates for products subject to this recall have expired, consumers are urged to look for the products at homes and return or discard them if found.

 

There are also various weights and varieties of ground beef, ground chuck, and ground sirloin product that are distributed for further processing and repackaging that were included in the recall.

The ground beef products subject to recall were produced between Oct. 8 and 11, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

 

The problem was discovered by FSIS through follow-up investigation after a positive E. coli identification at another federal establishment.

 

A spokeswoman for Cargill said 10 states are included in that recall - Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

 

E. coli is harboured in the intestines of cattle. Improper butchering and processing can cause the E. coli to get onto meat. Thorough cooking, to at least 160 degrees internal temperature, can destroy the bacteria.

 

US authorities are also tightening checks on meat products from Canada after it was revealed that contaminated samples that led to the Topps recall in September might have come from the country.