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USDA Warns of Possible E. Coli Danger in Recall of Frozen Ground Beef
10/01/2007
PRESS RELEASE
Defense Commissary Agency
Potential E. coli contamination has prompted a voluntary recall of more than 300,000 pounds of frozen ground beef by Topps Meat Company, LLC, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sept. 25. Food safety officials at the Defense Commissary Agency said that DeCA carries two of the recalled products:
- "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 12 quarter pounders, 3-pound boxes (UPC: 074701-00025). Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 20 quarter pounders, 5-pound boxes (UPC: 074701-00110). Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.”
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to food borne illness.
An investigation into a cluster of illnesses in the Northeast region carried out by the New York State Department of Health in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led to a positive product sample collected by the New York Department of Health.
Commissary patrons who have any of these products at home should stop consuming it and return the unused product with the label to the store from which they purchased it for a full refund.
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “Est. 9748” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The complete recall list includes the following products:
- “Butcher’s Best 100% All Beef Patties,” 75/25, 6 oz. flat, 27 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Butcher’s Best 100% All Beef Patties,” 75/25, 4 oz. (4-1), 40 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Kohler Foods 4 oz. Flat Hamburger,” Code: 60100, 40 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Kohler Foods 6 oz. Flat Hamburger,” Code: 60200, 27 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Kohler Foods 8 oz. Flat Hamburger,” Code: 60300, 20 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Sand Castle Fine Meat, 100% Premium Beef Hamburgers,” 80/20, 8 oz. flat, 20 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a packed-on date of “JUN 22 07.”
- “Sand Castle Fine Meat, 100% Premium Beef Hamburgers,” 85/15, 6 oz. flat, 27 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a packed-on date of “JUN 22 07.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 8 quarter pounders, 2-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 3 oz., 10 count, 2-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 6 oz. pub burgers, 3-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 12 quarter pounders, 3-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 16 hamburgers, 3-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 20 quarter pounders, 5-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.”
- “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers,” 32 quarter pounders, 8-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
- “Topps 100% Premium Hamburgers,” 5 oz. (1/2”), 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
- “Topps Hamburgers,” 3.2 oz, 50 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.”
- “Topps 100% Premium Hamburgers,” 8 oz. (pub burger), 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Topps 100% Premium Hamburgers - Homestyle,” 4 oz. (4-1), 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
- “Westside, 100% Premium Hamburger,” 8 oz. flat, 20 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
- “Westside, 100% Premium Hamburger,” 6 oz., flat, 27 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
- “Westside, 100% Premium Hamburger,” 5 oz. flat, 32 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov <http://www.askkaren.gov/> . The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 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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