National Beef Packing recalls ground beef products over possible E. coli contamination

National Beef Packing, an establishment based in Kansas, US, has recalled about 22,737lbs of raw ground beef products as they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the products being recalled include 10lb packs of ‘National Beef’ 80/20 Coarse Ground Chuck, bearing package code ‘0481’; 10lb packs of ‘National Beef’ 81/19 Coarse Ground Beef with package code ‘0421’; and 10lb packs of ‘National Beef’ 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck featuring package code ‘0484.’

All the affected products bear a ‘Use by/Sell by’ date of 14 June 2013, and the establishment number ‘EST. 208A’ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were manufactured on 25 May 2013 and shipped to various institutions and retail establishments in Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, Mississippi, Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Arizona.

The agency and the establishment are concerned that some of the affected products may be present in shoppers’ freezers.

The problem was identified during routine monitoring by the agency which confirmed a positive result for E.coli O157:H7.

Subsequent investigation determined that National Beef Packing was the sole supplier of the source materials used to manufacture the products.

FSIS and National Beef Packing have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Classified as Class I, the recall indicates a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product could cause serious, adverse health consequences.

FSIS regularly conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Foods contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled, but consumption of such foods can lead to diarrhoea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.

This foodborne illness can cause serious illness in the very young, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems.