Three Consumers of Ground Beef Contract E. Coli Bacteria

Posted on Sep 30, 2007

Three beef-eaters in 12 states, including Florida were sickened with the E. coli bacteria, prompting voluntary recall of 21.7 million pounds of frozen hamburger patties from The Topps Meat Co. in Elizabeth, NJ, the Associated Press reported. Earlier in the week, 332,000 pounds of ground beef from the same company was recalled from retail grocery stores. Twenty-two other consumers became ill, though a cause of their sickness hasn’t been determined.

Consumers Should Check Ground Beef for USDA Number

The recall includes beef with a “sell by date” or “best used if sold by date” of Sept. 25, 2007 – Sept. 25, 2008. All recalled products contain the USDA establishment number of 9748, located on the back of the package. It was the first-ever recall by Topps in its 67-year history.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended the grinding of raw products at the Topps plant after inspectors there found faulty safety measures it would not detail. “Because the health and safety of our consumers is our top priority, we are taking these expansive measures,” said Geoffrey Livermore, vice president of operations for the Topps Co.

The USDA confirmed three people contracted the E. Coli bacteria from Topps products, with 22 other cases under investigation. Besides Florida, cases were located in Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Samantha Safranek, 15, of Pembroke Pines, became ill after eating a Topps hamburger on Aug. 17, was hospitalized on Aug. 23, and underwent dialysis before recovering, according to the New York Times.

E. coli causes temporary intestinal illness in adults but is deadly for infants, the elderly and people with deficient immune systems. Symptoms are stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and sometimes, kidney failure.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16886017/