Beef Packers, Inc., of Fresno, California, is recalling about 825,769 pounds of ground beef products that may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) just announced. The recall is a Class I, which means this is a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
The recalled ground beef was produced on various dates ranging from June 5, 2009 through June 23, 2009; all products bear the establishment number “EST. 31913″ printed on the case code labels. The products subject to recall include:
60-Pound Cases:
“GRD Beef Sirl Fine 90/10″; identifying case code W69012; Use/Freeze by dates: 06/23/09, 06/26/09, 06/28/09, 06/29/09, 06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/05/09, 07/06/09, 07/07/09, 07/10/09, and 07/11/09.
“Grnd Bf Fine Sir 90/10 10/60 H”; identifying case code W69064; Use/Freeze by dates: 06/26/09, 07/03/09, 07/06/09, 07/07/09, and 07/14/09.
“Grnd Beef 90/10 Fine 60″; identifying case code W69063; Use/Freeze by dates: 06/23/09, 06/26/09, 06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/07/09, 07/10/09, and 07/11/09.
“Grnd Beef Fine 93/07 10/60″; identifying case code W69363; Use/Freeze by dates: 06/23/09, 06/26/09, 06/28/09, 06/29/09, 06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/07/09, 07/10/09 and 07/11/09.
“Grnd Beef Fine 93/07 10#/60 H”; identifying case code W69360; Use/Freeze by dates: 06/26/09, 07/03/09, 07/06/09, 07/10/09 and 07/14/09.
80-Pound Cases:
“Grnd Beef Fine 91/09 10#/80″; identifying case code W69108; Use/Freeze by dates: 06/30/09, 07/06/09, 07/08/09, and 07/13/09.
40-Pound Cases:
“GRD BEEF FINE 96/04-10#/40″; identifying case code W69602; Use/Freeze by dates: 06/23/09, 06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/07/09, 07/10/09, and 07/11/09.
The ground beef products were distributed to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Utah. Because these products were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names. The FSIS is advising consumers to check with their local retailer to determine if they purchased products subject to recall.
As a result of an ongoing investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Newport associated with ground beef products, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) notified FSIS of the situation. Epidemiological and traceback investigations conducted by FSIS and CDPHE determined that there is an association between the fresh ground beef products and illnesses reported in Colorado. The illnesses were also linked through the epidemiological investigation by their uncommon pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern found in PulseNet, a national network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This particular strain of Salmonella Newport is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company’s Consumer Line, toll-free at 1-877-872-3635.
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