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WISCONSIN FIRM RECALLS GROUND BEEF PRODUCTS, SAYS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is warning consumers about a recall of ground beef products in surrounding states.
American Foods Group, LLC, a Green Bay, Wisconsin, 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 United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) announced today.
The ground beef products subject to recall were produced on October 10, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments and distributors in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.
“Although West Virginia was not explicitly mentioned in the recall, it is possible some of that product entered the state, given the number of states bordering ours that are included,” said Commissioner Douglass.
The problem was discovered through an investigation of two illnesses by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
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.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the American Food Group, LLC at 800-829-2838. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
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 food-borne illness.
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.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 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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