Texas Firm Recalls Ground Beef for Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Texas Firm Recalls Ground Beef for Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Recall Release	CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-025-2006	HEALTH RISK: HIGH

Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Tara Balsley

WASHINGTON, August 4, 2006 - Plains Meat Company, LTD., a Lubbock, Texas, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 13,078 pounds of ground beef products that 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

Although the product(s) being recalled should be returned to the point of purchase, consumers preparing other ground beef products should heed the following advice.

Consumers should only eat ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe temperature of 160 °F. When a ground beef patty is cooked to 160 °F throughout, it can be safe and juicy, regardless of color.

The only way to be sure a ground beef patty is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use an accurate food thermometer.

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

Eating a pink or red ground beef patty without first verifying that the safe temperature of 160 °F has been reached is a significant risk factor for foodborne illness.

Thermometer use to ensure proper cooking temperature is especially important for those who cook or serve ground beef patties to people most at risk for foodborne illness because E. coli O157:H7 can lead to serious illness or even death. Those most at risk include young children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems.

The products subject to recall are:

Five to 20- pound packages of "GROUND BEEF, PACKED BY PLAINS MEAT COMPANY, LTD.," Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 1429" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Five to 20- pound packages of "BEEF PATTIES MIX, PACKED BY PLAINS MEAT COMPANY, LTD.," Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 1429" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

The ground beef was produced between July 31 and August 4, 2006 and was sent to restaurants and distributors in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas.

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 and media with questions about the recall should contact company Owner Howard Griffin at (806) 765-5595.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117213320/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ Food_Safety_Education/ Ask_Karen/. 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: August 4, 2006

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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