The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed there is an association between beef products recalled by National Steak and Poultry and at least some of the illnesses in the 16-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened at least 21 people.
The investigation is ongoing and includes collaboration with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and several state health departments.
The CDC’s first published confirmation of the outbreak said it peaked in mid-November, with onsets of illnesses ranging from October 3 through December 14. Nine people have been hopsitalized and one has suffered life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that is most likely to occur in children under 5 years old.
The E. coli recall of 248,000 pounds of boneless sirloin steak, sirloin tips, medallions, beef trim and other beef products was first announced on December 24th. At the time, National Steak and Poultry identified three restaurant chains as the primary recipients of recalled products. They were Moe’s Southwest Grill, Carino’s Italian and the KRM restaurant chain 54th Street Grill and Bar.
But just this week, Nation’s Restaurant News quoted officials from Applebee’s and Olive Garden who also admitted receiving beef products from National Steak and Poultry that were later recalled. National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker has called on the beef processor, which operates a plant in Owasso, Oklahoma, to disclose a complete audit of which restaurants in the country received meat that was potentially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
More information needs to come out about this outbreak and recall. Here are the words chosen by CDC that connect the meat processor to the outbreak, which investigators have associated with steaks that were blade tenderized before further processing: ”At this time, at least some of the illnesses appear to be associated with products subject to a recent FSIS recall.”
