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For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 5, 2004
SOME GROUND BEEF SOLD AT COLORADO SAM’S CLUBS RECALLED
DENVER—State health officials Thursday urged consumers to check their
freezers for recalled ground beef that may be contaminated with E.coli
0157:H7. The warning came after Carneco Foods of Columbus, Nebraska,
issued a voluntary recall late Tuesday that covered approximately 497,000
pounds of ground beef produced on June 21, 2004.
The recall affects frozen ground beef patties and fresh five-pound
ground beef tubes produced exclusively for Sam’s Club locations. A
representative from Sam’s Club in Bentonville, Arkansas, Thursday
confirmed that the affected product had been supplied to Colorado Sam’s
Club locations. Additionally, all Sam’s locations have been notified of
the recall and have pulled all of the affected products from their meat
counters and freezer cases.
Susan Parachini, wholesale food program coordinator of the department’s
Consumer Protection Division, said, “Coloradans should check for any of
the recalled product that may be in their freezers. If it is found, the
meat should be disposed of or returned to the place of purchase for a full
refund. It should not be eaten.”
According to Parachini, the ground beef was recalled as a result of an
investigation of four cases of E.coli 0157:H7 in Minnesota and one case in
Wisconsin, believed to be associated with the product. There have been no
reported cases of illness in Colorado at this time, Parachini said.
All products covered by the recall bear the establishment code “EST. 245P”
inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection. Three of the
four products that consumers may have purchased from Sam’s Club locations
are frozen ground beef patties and carry the brand Northern Plains.
These recalled products are:
- Six-pound bags/boxes of Northern Plains Beef Sirloin Patties
- Six-pound and 10-pound boxes of Northern Plains Gourmet Ground Beef
Patties
All of the boxes have a packaging code of 173-04-CAR1 or 2 and also are
marked with Best (if eaten) by 12/18/04.
A five-pound chub or tube of fresh ground beef also is being recalled.
The fresh product is labeled as Fine Ground Beef 91/09 and has a “Sell
by/Freeze by” date of 7/10/04.
E. coli 0157:H7 can cause bloody diarrhea and intense abdominal cramps.
Some cases may develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, which usually requires
hospitalization. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. If an
individual has eaten any of this recalled product and is experiencing any
of the related symptoms, the person should contact his or her health care
provider immediately.
Parachini reminded Coloradans that thoroughly cooking hamburgers to
155° to 160° Farenheit will kill E. coli 0157:H7. The safest cooking
method is to use a food thermometer to properly cook hamburgers by
inserting the tip of the probe into the thickest part of the hamburger,
she said.
For more information, contact the Department of Public Health and
Environment’s Consumer Protection Division at (303) 692-3620.
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