Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Ground Beef Recalled For E. Coli Contamination

National Beef Packing Co., a Liberal, Kan., establishment, is recalling approximately 22,737 pounds of raw 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.  E. coli O157:H7 is the most common type of infectious E. coli.

The products are subject to recall: are :
10 lb. packages of “National Beef” 80/20 Coarse Ground Chuck, package code “0481.”
10 lb. packages of “National Beef” 81/19 Coarse Ground Beef, package code “0421.”
10 lb. packages of “National Beef” 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck, package code “0484.”
All these products have a “USE BY/SELL BY DATE” of June 14, 2013.  The products were produced on May 25, 2013, and shipped to various institutions and retail establishments.  FSIS and the establishment are concerned that some product may be frozen and in shoppers’ freezers. This recall is nation wide.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called HUS. This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. Symptoms of HUS may include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue and irritability, small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, decreased urination, and swelling. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

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