Wisconsin Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination

Wisconsin Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination

Recall Release	CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-054-2007	HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2007 - American Foods Group, LLC, a Green Bay, Wisc., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 95,927 pounds of various coarse and fine ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

Preparing Ground Beef For Safe Consumption

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit www.fsis.usda.gov

Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Consumers should only eat ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160°F.

Color is NOT a reliable indicator that ground beef or ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7.

The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature.

Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase or one hour if temperatures exceed 90°F. Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.

The following products are subject to recall:

Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 73/27." Each shipping label bears a product code of "65000."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 75/25." Each shipping label bears a product code of "65800."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND 90/10." Each shipping label bears a product code of "66000."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 80/20." Each shipping label bears a product code of "66400."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 75/25." Each shipping label bears a product code of "19900."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 73/27." Each shipping label bears a product code of "20100."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND 82/18." Each shipping label bears a product code of "20600."
Bulk weight packages of "CHOP BEEF STEAK, FINE GRIND "86/14." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30000."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND 92/08." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30400."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF ROUND, FINE GROUND 87/13." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30200."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 80/20." Each shipping label bears a product code of "30700."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND 82/18." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31400."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 93/07." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31600."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF, FINE GROUND 73/27." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31700."
Bulk weight packages of "BEEF MODIFIED, FINE GROUND 93/07." Each shipping label bears a product code of "31900."

Each shipping label bears the establishment number "Est. 18076" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products subject to recall were distributed for further processing and repackaging and will not bear the recalling firm's establishment number on the package. As the use-by date for products subject to this recall may have expired, consumers can contact their retailers to ask if they received any of these products and if so, consumers are urged to look in their freezers for these products and return or discard them if found.

The ground beef products subject to recall were produced on Oct. 10, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments and distributors in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.

The problem was discovered through an investigation into two illnesses that was initiated by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company Executive Assistant Sally VanderHei at (800) 829-2838. National media with questions about the recall should contact company Communications Consultant Jim Mulhern at (703) 553-8000. Local media with questions about the recall should contact company representative Susan Finco at (920) 965-7750.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

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.

www.fsis.usda.gov

Food Safety Questions? Ask Karen!
FSIS' automated response system can provide food safety information 24/7

Last Modified: November 24, 2007

USDA Recall Classifications
Class I	This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II	This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
Class III	This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.


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