Guest guest Posted July 19, 2002 Report Share Posted July 19, 2002 By JESSE J. HOLLAND ..c The Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (July 19) - A recall of contaminated hamburger linked to possible E. coli bacteria illnesses among 22 people is being expanded to 19 million pounds of meat sold nationwide, the Agriculture Department said Friday. ''This action is being taken as a cautionary measure to ensure the protection of public health,'' said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. ''Public health is our number one priority and it is our number one concern.'' The beef recall by ConAgra Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., expands a previous recall at the end of last month. The Agriculture Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 16 people have been diagnosed with E. Coli from the tainted meat in Colorado. Six other ill people in California, Michigan, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming might be linked to the ConAgra meat, the agencies said. The 19 million pounds of meat were produced between April 12 and July 11, officials said. Officials are still collecting details and expect to release later information that will allow consumers to identify products that should be returned to stores or discarded. ''This has just begun,'' said Elsa Murano, the undersecretary for food safety. She said no E. coli has been found at the plant since July 11. ConAgra is cooperating with the Agriculture Department, officials said. Veneman, asked if the department will cite the company for violations, said a government investigation at the plant is continuing. The recall is the biggest since 1997, when Hudson Foods recalled 25 million pounds of ground beef after 15 people in Colorado fell ill from E. coli after eating hamburger from its Columbus, Neb. plant. Two weeks ago, the company recalled 354,200 pounds of ground beef and nearly a month after a positive E. coli test at a Denver packing house raised the first sign of trouble. E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tracts and feces of livestock. If it contaminates meat, it can lead to digestive illnesses and potentially death in humans. Health officials have been urging consumers to cook their ground beef to 160 degrees in the center to completely kill the pathogen. Agriculture officials said no one is currently hospitalized, although some people have been admitted and released, they said. Testing is under way in other states as public health officials tried to establish the scope of the outbreak. The voluntary recall is of beef trim which is used to make ground beef, as well as fresh and frozen ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7, officials said. Americans ate 69.5 pounds of beef per person in 2000, reflecting steady but modest increases since 1993, when consumption fell to 65.1 pounds, officials said. AP-NY-07-19-02 1534EDT Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2002 Report Share Posted July 19, 2002 Thanks for this... there has been a " cover-up " in the news regarding tainted beef in the US... Two weeks ago a friend at work told me that one of his friends and a professor at the Univ. of Oregon, died within a week apart by tainted meat from the " mad cow " disease. This was surpressed in our local news and the problem in the NorthWest US is just beginning to leak out... so I heard from another coworker today. Since I don't get a paper, I cannot give details but am hoping that one of you have heard something? I am glad to be " meatless " but am concerned for friends and family., Bodhimind8@a... wrote: > By JESSE J. HOLLAND > .c The Associated Press Writer > > WASHINGTON (July 19) - A recall of contaminated hamburger linked to possible > E. coli bacteria illnesses among 22 people is being expanded to 19 million > pounds of meat sold nationwide, the Agriculture Department said Friday. > > ''This action is being taken as a cautionary measure to ensure the protection > of public health,'' said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. ''Public health > is our number one priority and it is our number one concern.'' > > The beef recall by ConAgra Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., expands a previous > recall at the end of last month. > > The Agriculture Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention > said 16 people have been diagnosed with E. Coli from the tainted meat in > Colorado. Six other ill people in California, Michigan, South Dakota, > Washington and Wyoming might be linked to the ConAgra meat, the agencies said. > > The 19 million pounds of meat were produced between April 12 and July 11, > officials said. Officials are still collecting details and expect to release > later information that will allow consumers to identify products that should > be returned to stores or discarded. > > ''This has just begun,'' said Elsa Murano, the undersecretary for food > safety. She said no E. coli has been found at the plant since July 11. > > ConAgra is cooperating with the Agriculture Department, officials said. > Veneman, asked if the department will cite the company for violations, said a > government investigation at the plant is continuing. > > The recall is the biggest since 1997, when Hudson Foods recalled 25 million > pounds of ground beef after 15 people in Colorado fell ill from E. coli after > eating hamburger from its Columbus, Neb. plant. > > Two weeks ago, the company recalled 354,200 pounds of ground beef and nearly > a month after a positive E. coli test at a Denver packing house raised the > first sign of trouble. > > E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tracts and feces of livestock. > > If it contaminates meat, it can lead to digestive illnesses and potentially > death in humans. Health officials have been urging consumers to cook their > ground beef to 160 degrees in the center to completely kill the pathogen. > > Agriculture officials said no one is currently hospitalized, although some > people have been admitted and released, they said. > > Testing is under way in other states as public health officials tried to > establish the scope of the outbreak. > > The voluntary recall is of beef trim which is used to make ground beef, as > well as fresh and frozen ground beef products that may be contaminated with > E. coli 0157:H7, officials said. > > Americans ate 69.5 pounds of beef per person in 2000, reflecting steady but > modest increases since 1993, when consumption fell to 65.1 pounds, officials > said. > > AP-NY-07-19-02 1534EDT > > Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news > report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed > without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active > hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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