Nebraska Beef recalls primal, subprimal and boxed beef

Omaha, Neb.-based Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled about 1.2 million pounds of primal cuts, subprimal cuts and boxed beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Friday (Aug 8, 2008).

These beef products were produced on June 17, June 24 and July 8, 2008 and were sent to establishments and retail stores nationwide for further processing.

The problem was discovered through a joint investigation with state departments of health and agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FSIS.

To date, 31 cases in 12 states and Canada have been identified in the investigation.

The recall comes a month after Nebraska Beef recalled about 5.3 million pounds of ground beef as the FSIS said the beef could have been produced under unsanitary conditions. The beef was traced from Kroger stores and found in 44 states in the US.

Last week, the USDA's FSIS announced that it has increased E coli testing four-fold this year.