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Consumer Protection Alert on Recalled Beef

 

     November 2, 2009

 

Families Urged to Check Freezers for Recalled Ground Beef Following National Recall Due To Possible E. coli Contamination

 

HARTFORD, November 2 -- “If in doubt, throw it out,” is the message from Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. today to consumers who have frozen ground beef that may be part of a nationwide ground beef recall.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, more than half a million pounds of fresh ground beef products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  Fairbank Farms, of Ashville, New York, is recalling the suspect beef.


“The products have been cleared from store shelves, but families who have frozen ground beef over the past few weeks in Connecticut from Trader Joes, Shaws, BJ’s Warehouse, or Price Chopper should look on the package for the code that would indicate if it’s part of the recalled batch,” Commissioner Farrell said.  “People who remove meat from its original packaging and rewrap in freezer paper will not be able to verify the batch, and so if the ground beef was bought at one of the stores named in the recall, consumers should throw it out rather than take a risk with E. coli.”

 

Each package of ground beef in the recall bears the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label. These products were packaged on September 15 and 16, 2009, and may have been labeled at the retail stores with a sell-by date from September 19 through 28, 2009.   

 

Recalled meat should be returned to place of purchase for a refund.

 

The product has been linked to illnesses in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and one death in New Hampshire has been associated with eating contaminated beef.  The Connecticut Department of Public Health and other state health and agriculture departments are working closely with the Food Safety Inspection Service and the Centers for Disease Control on the investigation.  

 

Products that may have been sold in Connecticut and are subject to recall include:

 

Trader Joes

·         1-pound packages of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF 85/15."

·         1-pound packages of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF 80/20." NOTE: The sell-by dates for the above two products may be October 6 or 7, 2009.

·         1-pound trays of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF PATTIES 96/4 EXTRA LEAN."

·         1-pound trays of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85/15."

 

Price Chopper

·         1 and 2.5-pound trays of "PRICE CHOPPER MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."

·         1-pound trays of "PRICE CHOPPER EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF 96/4."

·         1-pound trays of "PRICE CHOPPER FRESH GROUND BEEF CHUCK FOR CHILI 80% LEAN 20% FAT."

-more-

 

Shaw's

·         1 and 2-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF 93/7."

·         1-, 2- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF 80/20."

·         1- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF 75/25."

·         1.3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND SIRLOIN BEEF PATTIES 90/10."

·         1.3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND ROUND BEEF PATTIES 85/15."

·         1.3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80/20."

·         3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF PATTIES FAMILY PACK 80/20."

·         1-pound trays of "SHAW'S ANGUS GROUND BEEF 85/15."

·         1-, 2- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND ROUND BEEF 85/15."

·         1-pound trays of "SHAW'S 90% NATURAL GROUND BEEF."

·         1-pound trays of "SHAW'S 85% NATURAL GROUND BEEF."

·         1-, 2- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND SIRLOIN 90/10."

·         1-pound trays of "MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."

 

 

BJ's Warehouse

·         5-pound trays of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 15 % FAT" patties.

·         5-pound trays of "LEAN GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 7% FAT."

·         2.5-pound trays of "MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."



E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. Very young children, older adults, and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician immediately.

“Always follow safe food guidelines to prepare raw meat products, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° Fahrenheit,” Farrell said. “The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer.”

Farrell added that when working with ground beef, cooks should thoroughly clean their hands, the working surface, and utensils afterward before handling other foods.

 

Media questions regarding the recall should be directed to Fairbanks Farms’ Media Representative, Agnes Schafer at (866) 460-8017. Consumer questions should be directed to the company's Consumer Hotline at (877) 546-0122.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

-end-

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