WASHINGTON, June 30, 2002—ConAgra Beef Company, a
Greeley, Colo., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately
354,200 pounds of 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 announced today.
The following cases of ground beef products being
recalled are marked with the package code "Freeze or sell by 06 18 02," and
each case contains six ten-pound chubs.
- "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 following cases of ground beef products being
recalled are marked with a package code "Freeze or sell by 06 18 02," and
each case contains eight ten-pound chubs.
- "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 following ground beef product being recalled
is marked with a package code "Freeze or Sell by 06 18 02" and is packaged
in cases, with each one containing 12 five-pound chubs.
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef 73/27 Fine Grind, 12-5# Chubs" with the
case code "42816." Each retail chub contains the label "GROUND BEEF."
The following ground beef product being recalled
is marked with a Julian date code of "151 02" on each case, and each case
contains 36 one-pound chubs.
- "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 36-1# Chubs" with the
case code "42862." Each frozen retail chub contains the label "GROUND BEEF
CHUCK."
The labels on all products being recalled bear
the establishment code "EST. 969" inside the USDA seal of inspection. The
ground beef was produced on May 31 and distributed to retail, food service
and institutional establishments nationwide. The problem was discovered
through FSIS microbiological traceback sampling .
"Because of the potential hazard of foodborne
illness from consumption of meat products contaminated with harmful bacteria
such as E. coli O157:H7, I urge consumers who have purchased the
suspect product not to eat it and return it to the place of purchase," said
Linda Swacina, acting FSIS administrator. "USDA is informing the public so
consumers who may have purchased and stored the product in their
refrigerators or freezers will know to check. Also, diners may wish to ask
if their meals contain the recalled product."
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.
FSIS has received no reports of illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an
illness should contact a physician.
Consumers with questions about the recall may
contact Jim Herlihy, vice president of communications and consumer affairs,
ConAgra Beef Company, at (970) 506-8052.
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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NOTE: Access news releases and other information at the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov |
PREPARING GROUND BEEF FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION
Although the product being recalled
should be returned to the place of purchase, consumers preparing other ground beef
products should heed the following advice.
Consumers should only eat ground beef
patties that have been cooked to a safe temperature of 160 ºF. When a ground beef patty
is cooked to 160 ºF throughout, it can be safe and juicy, regardless of color.
The only way to be sure a ground beef patty
is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use an accurate
digital instant-read thermometer.
Color is not a reliable indicator that
ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria
such as E. coli O157:H7.
Eating a pink or red ground beef patty
without first verifying that the safe temperature of 160 ºF has been reached is a
significant risk factor for foodborne illness.
Thermometer use to ensure proper cooking
temperature is especially important for those who cook or serve ground beef patties to
people most at risk for foodborne illness because E. coli O157:H7 can lead to
serious illness or even death. Those most at risk include young children, the elderly, and
those with compromised immune systems. |