E. coli O157:H7 Contamination Spurs Utah Ground Beef Recall

By News Desk | October 23, 2012 Main Street Quality Meats of Salt Lake City, Utah recalled about 2,310 pounds of ground beef Monday for possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. No illnesses are yet associated with the recall, which came after testing by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) revealed contamination in the product. The company had already shipped the ground beef when it received the positive test results. According to FSIS, products subject to the recall include: • 10-lb cases of "GROUND BEEF BULK." • 12-lb cases of "GROUND BEEF PATTIES." Each case bears the establishment number "EST. 19916″ inside the USDA mark of inspection, as well as any of the following identifying lot numbers: "1018121," "1019121," "1018122," or "1019122." The recalled ground beef was produced on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, 2012, and was distributed to restaurants in Utah. E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Anyone experiencing those symptoms should see a healthcare provider. FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare both fresh and frozen raw meat products, only consuming 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. © Food Safety News More Headlines from Food Recalls » Tags: E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, ground beef, recall