In response to an ongoing investigation by the USDA into possible E. coli contamination, California-based Huntington Meat Packing Inc. recalls 863,820 pounds of ground beef.

 

A spokesman for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said Tuesday (Jan 19) that 162,450 pounds of the ground beef  being recalled was produced earlier this month from January 5 through January 15. But most of the product - 701,370 pounds - was produced about two years ago, from February 19 through May 15, 2008.

 

While these products are normally used fresh, the establishment is taking this action out of concern that some product may still be frozen and in commerce, the FSIS said in a statement.

 

The recall was initiated after an FSIS team was sent to the California plant to perform a food-safety assessment, which was not routine. The recalled ground beef was sent to hotels and restaurants in California in the form of products such as burrito filling and frozen hamburger patties.

 

The USDA has not linked any illnesses to the ground beef being recalled, but E. coli 0157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria.