WASHINGTON, July 19, 2002 — ConAgra Beef
Company, a Greeley, Colo., establishment, is
voluntarily recalling approximately 19 million
pounds of beef trim and fresh and frozen
ground beef products that may be contaminated
with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The recall is an expansion of the June 30
voluntary recall of 354,200 pounds of fresh
and frozen ground beef products. Today’s
voluntary action was taken following a
scientific and technical review of plant
practices and company records by FSIS. The
investigation indicated that product destined
to become ground beef that was produced at the
Greeley plant had a heightened possibility of
containing E. coli O157:H7.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has
documented multiple cases of illness connected
to ConAgra beef that was the subject of the
June 30 recall.
"Our highest priority is protecting the
public’s health and safety," said William
Hudnall, acting administrator of the Food
Safety and Inspection Service. "Today’s
precautionary action is an additional measure
to ensure this priority is carried out.
"Because of the potential of foodborne
illness from consumption of meat products
contaminated with harmful bacteria such as
E. coli O157:H7, consumers who have
purchased the suspect product are encouraged
not to consume it and return it to the place
of purchase," Hudnall said.
He added that consumers can be confident that
proper cooking kills harmful bacteria.
Whether or not consumers find recalled product
in their homes, following safe handling tips
and cooking ground beef products to an
internal temperature of 160 degrees F. will
ensure that any harmful bacteria present will
be eliminated.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially
deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea
and dehydration. The very young, seniors and
persons with compromised immune systems are
the most susceptible to foodborne illness.
Anyone who suspects they may have an illness
should contact a physician.
The labels on all
products subject to the recall bear the
establishment code "EST. 969" inside the USDA
seal of inspection.
The following ground beef products subject to
the expanded recall were produced on
approximately 28 production days from April
12, 2002 to June 29, 2002. Each product bears
on its label a pack date from "APR 12" through
JUN 29."
- "Con
Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck, 80/20 Coarse
Grind 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42606."
- "Con
Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 75/25, Coarse Grind,
8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42511."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground
Beef, 73/27, Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs."
Each label also bears, "42510."
- "BULK GROUND BEEF, 81/19, FINE."
Each label bears the case code, "2209393."
- Con Agra Beef, Ground
Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs, Keep
Frozen, Net Wt. 40 Lbs." Each label also
bears, "42502."
- "Con
Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19, Fine Grind,
8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42499."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground
Beef, 93/07, Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each
label also bears, "42891."
- "Con
Agra Beef, Ground Beef Round Fine Grind,
12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42878."
- "Con
Agra Beef, Ground Beef Round, 85/15 Coarse
Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42609."
- "Con
Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck, 80/20 Fine
Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42630."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground
Beef, 75/25 Fine Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each
label also bears, "42632."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
85/15 Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42409."
- "CERTIFIED, ANGUS BEEF, Ground
Beef, 81/19 Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each
label also bears, "42242."
- "Hunt-Wesson, #IB171, 70/30 Coarse Ground Beef, For Further
Processing." Each label also bears,
"42301."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42162."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
81/19 Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42141."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
81/19, Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42142."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
85/15, Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42151."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
75/25, Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42122."
- "Con Agra Beef, Beef Trimmings
Ground, 73/27, Use In Fully Cooked Only, Keep
Frozen, Net Wt. 60 Lbs." Each label also
bears, "42116."
- 16 ounce packages of "GROUND
BEEF ROUND."
- 16 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF, 73/27."
- 16 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF CHUCK."
- 16 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF, 80/20."
- 16 ounce packages of
"LEAN GROUND BEEF, 93/7"
- 16 ounce packages of
"Kroger, FRESH, GROUND
CHUCK, 100% BEEF."
- 16 ounce packages of
"Kroger, FRESH, GROUND
BEEF, 100% BEEF."
- 16 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN."
- 60-pound boxes of "Con Agra
Beef, Ground Beef, 85/15 Fine Grind, 6-10#
Chubs." Each label also bears, "42152."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
81/19, Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42841."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
81/19 Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42843."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
81/19 Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label also
bears, "42845."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
81/19, Fine Grind, 12-5# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42846."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42861."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind, 36-1# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42862."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42863."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck
Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also
bears, "42867."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42868."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42869."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Round Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42871."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef,
85/15, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears,
"44117."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 50/50, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label
also bears, "44001."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 65/35, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label
also bears, "44002."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 75/25, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label
also bears, "44003."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 85/15, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label
also bears, "44007."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 50/50 Keep Frozen Use in Fully
Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also
bears "44016."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 65/35 Keep Frozen Use in Fully
Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also
bears, "44017."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 85/15 Keep Frozen Use in Fully
Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also
bears, "44019."
- "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings 80/20 Keep Frozen Use in Fully
Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also
bears, "44020."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Sirloin 90/10 Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each
label also bears, "42132."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also
bears, "42166."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Chuck Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, ‘42169."
- "CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF, Ground
Beef Chuck Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each
label also bears, "42262."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
93/07 Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42191."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
93/07 Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also
bears, "42192."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Round Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42171."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Round Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also
bears, "42172."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
73/27, Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42811."
- "Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine
Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42813."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef,
73/27, Fine Grind, 16-3# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42814."
- "Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine
Grind, 12-5# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42816."
- "Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine
Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42817."
- "Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine
Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42818."
- "Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine
Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42819."
- "Con Agra Beef, 75/25, Fine
Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42825."
- "Con Agra Beef, 75/25, Fine
Grind, 12-5# Chubs." Each label also bears,
"42826."
- "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef
Sirloin Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label
also bears, "42831."
- 80 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF 75/25"
- 80 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF 73/27"
- 80 ounce packages of
"Kroger FRESH GROUND BEEF
QUALITY GUARANTEED 100%
BEEF"
- 80 ounce packages
"GROUND BEEF 80/20"
- 80 ounce packages of
"Kroger FRESH GROUND BEEF
QUALITY GUARANTEED 100%
BEEF"
- 48 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF 73/27"
- 48 ounce packages
"GROUND BEEF CHUCK"
- 48 ounce packages of
"Kroger FRESH GROUND ROUND
QUALITY GUARANTEED 100%
BEEF"
- 48 ounce packages of
"Kroger GROUND CHUCK
QUALITY GUARANTEED 100%
BEEF"
- 80 ounce packages of
"Kroger GROUND CHUCK
QUALITY GUARANTEED 100%
BEEF"
- 48 ounce packages of
"GROUND BEEF 80/20"
Also subject to the
recall expansion are the following beef trim
products produced on approximately 34
production days from April 12, 2002 through
July 11, 2002. Each product bears on its
label a pack date from "APR 12" through "JUL
11."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Edible Beef Fat
with Visible Lean and Edible Beef Fat,
Ingredients: Beef Fat with Visible Lean, Beef
Fat. For Further Processing, (Paper Combo)."
Each label also bears, "43997."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings, 85/15, (Combo)." Each label bears,
"43007."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings, 65/35, (Combo)." Each label also
bears, "43002."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings, 50/50, (Combo)." Each label also
bears, "43001."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Chuck
Trimmings G/B, (Comb)." Each label also bears,
"20490."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Round
Trimmings, (Combo)." Each label also bears,
"30638."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings, 65/35, (Combo)." Each label also
bears, "43002."
-
"Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef
Trimmings, 50/50, (Combo)." Each label also
bears, "43001."
The following products
were part of the original recall on June 30,
2002.
-
"ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
75/25 Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42122";
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
Sirloin 90/10 Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with
the case code "42132";
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
81/19 Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42141";
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
Chuck Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42162";
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
Chuck Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42169";
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
Round Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42171";
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
Round Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42172"; and
- "CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF," "Ground
Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the
case code "42262."
The cases of ground beef
that were initially recalled were marked with
a package code "Freeze or sell by 06 18 02,"
and each case contained eight ten-pound Chubs,
as follows:
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
81/19 Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42410";
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
81/19 Fine Grind, 8-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42499"; and
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef
73/27 Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs" with the case
code "42510."
The ground beef product
that was initially recalled was marked with a
package code "Freeze or Sell by 06 18 02" and
was packaged in cases, with each one contained
12 five-pound Chubs, as follows:
The ground beef product
that was initially recalled was marked with a
Julian date code of "151 02" on each case, and
each case contained 36 one-pound Chubs, as
follows:
Consumers and media with questions about the
recall may contact Jim Herlihy, vice president
of communications and consumer affairs,
ConAgra Beef Company, tollfree at (888) 742-0467.
Consumers seeking general information about
this recall can also call (866-849-7438), a
special tollfree number established by FSIS.
Consumers with other food safety questions can
phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry
Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline is
available in English and Spanish and can be
reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time),
Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety
messages are available 24 hours a day.
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