To Your Health

A company voluntarily recalled nearly 96,000 pounds of ground beef products
after two people were sickened, possibly by the E. coli bacteria, the U.S.
 Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Saturday.

The beef products by American Foods Group include coarse and fine ground beef
chuck, sirloin and chop beef. They were distributed to retailers and distributors
 in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.

The problem surfaced after an investigation by the Illinois Department of Health,
which was looking into two reports of illnesses.

The bacteria is E. coli O157:H7. E. coli is harbored in the intestines of cattle.
Improper butchering and processing can cause the E. coli to get onto meat.
 Thorough cooking, to at least 160 degrees internal temperature, can destroy
the bacteria.

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

The products subject to recall were produced on Oct. 10. They were distributed
 for further processing and repackaging and will not have the company’s establishment
 number on the package.

Some of the recommended use-by dates have already expired. In that case, consumers
 can contact their retailers to see if the products in question were at stores. Consumers
are also urged to look in their freezers and return or throw out the products if they find them.

The products include:

_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.
___
On the Net:
Agriculture Department’s Food and Safety Inspection Service: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 

(excerpts) Marler Clark
Comments on American Foods Group Recall of Ground Beef Products
due to E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination and Illnesses in Illinois

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Foods Group, LLC, a Green Bay,
Wisconsin firm, recalled approximately 95,927 pounds of various coarse and fine
ground beef products because they are contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced
Saturday. 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.

Since the spring of this year over 30 million pounds of hamburger have been recalled
 in the United States and hundreds have been sickened. This makes 2007 one of the
 worst years on record.

Marler Clarkwww.marlerclark.com has extensive experience representing victims of foodborne
 bacterial illnesses. William Marler represented Brianne Kiner in her $15.6 million E. coli award against
Jack in the Box in 1993. Mr. Marler has been involved in every major E. coli outbreak primarily
 representing injured children, in the last 14 years. The partners at Marler Clark also speak frequently
on issues of safe food and have formed Outbreak, a non-profit business dedicated to
 training companies on how to avoid foodborne diseases
http://www.about-ecoli.com/


Marler Clark is also proud to sponsor the informational web sites
http://www.about-ecoli.com/

www.about-hus., www.ecolilitigation.com and www.ecoliblog.com. Mr. Marler posts
 frequently on food safety on his blog, www.marlerblog.com. He can be reached at
rbmarler@marlerclark.comor 1-206-346-1879.

Contacts
Marler Clark
William Marler, 1-206-346-1879
bmarler@marlerclark.com
 
LINKS

HUS
http://www.about-hus.com/

LITIGATION
http://www.ecolilitigation.com/

E.coli Blog
http://www.ecoliblog.com/

OUTBREAK: 
http://www.outbreakinc.com/