E.Coli in Beef

[Guest guest]

E. coli fears spur California and Pennsylvania beef recalls

Almost 400,000 pounds of beef are being recalled after reports of illness

thought to be caused by E. coli contamination.

April 21 2007: 11:07 AM EDT

 

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Two beef producers, one in California and the other

in Pennsylvania, have recalled a total of close to 400,000 pounds of beef

stemming from fears of E. Coli contamination.

 

A Pennsylvania beef company is recalling about 259,230 lbs of beef products

and a California company is recalling about 107,943 pounds of frozen ground

beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S.

Agriculture Department said on Friday.

 

Video More video

 

 

Is your food safer if it is grown close to home? CNN's

Judy Fortin reports (March 7)

Play video

 

 

 

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania Department of

Health have found several illnesses tied to steak products produced by HFX

Inc. for Hoss's Family Steak and Sea Restaurants, a chain based in

Pennsylvania.

 

USDA said 4,884 pounds were produced on various dates between April 5, 2007,

and April 19, 2007, and were distributed to retail stores in Pennsylvania.

The rest of the meat, 254,346 lbs, was distributed to restaurants in

Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The beef from Richwood Meat Co.

was produced on April 28, 2006, and was sent to retail outlets in Arizona,

California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

 

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said in a statement the illnesses are

believed to be the result of eating rare or medium-rare steak at the

restaurants March 24-March 29. Four of five people have been hospitalized,

but none has developed kidney failure.

 

" Because the number of cases is small and the exposure period was several

weeks ago, the health department believes the risk to Hoss's customers is

low, " the Pennsylvania Department of Health said.

 

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody

diarrhea and dehydration. Children, elderly and people with poor immune

systems are the most susceptible.

 

USDA said products being recalled have an establishment number " EST. 8264 "

inside the USDA mark of inspection and a date code of 118-6 or 4/28/06.

 

 

 

Marilyn Daub

mcdaub

Vanceburg, KY

My Cats Knead Me!!