Valley Meat E. coli Recall Amended
USDA has ammended its recall announcement regarding Valley Meat Company, Modesto, California, a meatpacker that recalled about 1 million pounds of frozen hamburger patties and other ground beef due to possible E. coli 0157:H7 contamination. 
The meat has been associated with a cluster of 7 E. coli infections in people who live in California.
The recall announcement is being amended to revise the geographic distribution and to note that some of the recalled products were distributed to a firm in California for further processing. The further-processing facility is not named. The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 8268″ inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a production code of 27509 through 01210. These products were produced on various dates between Oct. 2, 2009 and Jan. 12, 2010. They were distributed to retail outlets and institutional foodservice providers in California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and internationally, and to a firm in California for further processing, the amended recall said.
USDA became aware of the problem on July 15 when the agency was notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of a small E. coli O157:H7 cluster of illnesses with a rare strain as determined by DNA fingerprinting. A total of six patients with illness onset dates between April 8 and June 18, 2010 were reported at that time. After further review, CDPH added another patient from February to the case count, bringing the count to seven.
FSIS is continuing to work with the CDPH and the company on the investigation. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a health care provider.
Ohio State Researchers Connect E. coli to Swimmers
New research released by The Ohio State University reported that there is a direct link with high E.coli levels and swimmers becoming ill. 
The report also states that testing for E.coli can take up to 18 hours and that swimming advisories are usually posted a day late.
Mary Clifton with the Ohio Department of Health told NBC4-TV in Columbus, Ohio, that there is a push to get more rapid testing. The problem is that there is not an improved standard test yet to do rapid testing. The Ohio State research report said that better methods need to be in place to protect lakes from being contaminated in the first place. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria grow in the guts of cattle and other animals. The animals shed the pathogen in their feces and it can be washed into waterways during rains.
E. coli in Drinking Water at New Jersey Amusement Park
Drinking water at Land of Make Believe amusement park in Hope Township, New Jersey has tested positive for E. coli bacteria, according to local news outlets. The park will undergo plumbing repairs and water use restrictions, Warren County Health Officer Peter Summers told news sources. Over 50 years old, the park will remain open and Summers says the facilities are safe for visitors. The pool water has not tested positive for E. coli, the harmful pathogen that can cause serious illness if ingested, especially in children and the elderly.
“With the temporary measures [the amusement park] put in place, it’s safe for them to operate,” Summers said.
According to the news report, Warren County officials found out in late July that one of five drinking water samples taken from the park had tested positive for E. coli. Visitors are being instructed not to drink the water. Plumbing repairs have finished and the park’s drinking water will be tested again this week. So long as the park is taking steps to remedy the issue, no fines will be imposed. News reports cited that the Land of Make Believe did receive a violation in 2009 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for “unpermitted discharge to ground or surface water from a septic system.”
Source:
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1282104315245270.xml&coll=3
Lincoln NE Area Lake Tainted With E. coli
A popular recreational lake in the greater Lincoln, Nebraska, area has been found with very high levels of E. coli. The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has not closed Branched Oak Lake to swimming or other recreation, but people should avoid drinking the water.
A test taken August 12 of the lake revealed E. coli levels at 1,300 parts per 100 milliliters. Any count greater than 235 is considered high, said Brian McManus, a department spokesman. Officials did not say what caused the spike in E. coli levels in the lake, but runoff from heavy rain has been known to increase E. coli levels in some lakes. The pathogen grows in the guts of cattle and some other animals and is expelled in the animals’ feces. The bacteria can cause bloody diarrhea and painful stomach cramping. In 5 to 15 percent of infections, patients develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children.
McManus told JournalStar.com that weekly testing of the lake will continue.
Valley Meat Co. E.coli Recall Retail List Posted
The Valley Meat Company E. coli recall distribution list has been posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). On August 6, the Modesto, California company recalled about one million pounds of ground beef that could potentially be contaminated with E. coli. The recall came after an E. coli outbreak in which seven people became sick. Federal health officials began investigating the cluster of illnesses after the California Department of Public Health notified them that the E. coli O157:H7 cases matched the same PFGE pattern, or “genetic fingerprint.”
Valley Meat Company E. coli Recall Retail Distribution List
Meat was recalled from stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Texas, Nevada, Washington and Oregon. The Recalled products were manufactured from Oct. 2009-Jan. 2010. The establishment number on the recalled frozen beef products is EST. 8268 and the production codes are 25709 through 01210.
Times Super Market
King Market
Oak Creek Market, Inc.
Four Corners Market
Anza Village Market
Big Trees Market
Spencers Fresh Market
Ponderosa Market
Banning Village Market
Rio Ranch Market
My T Fine Foods
Ben Lomand Market
Andronico’s Markets, Inc.
Manor Market Inc
Boron Food Mart, Inc.
Dinsmor Store
Mollie Stones
Mike’s Discount Food Market
P W Supermarket Inc.
Page’s Market
Al Mancasola’s Grocery Markets
Farmers Fresco Supermarket
Foods Etc.
Oaks Red and White
Colfax Sierra Market
Solano Market
The Original Irvine Ranch Market
Best Deal Food Company Inc.
Del Sol Market
El Sol Market
Erickson Supermarket
Fairway Stores
IGA
J. Solanki Meat
McKays
Mi Pueblo San Jose Inc.
Safeway
Select Markets
Super A Foods, Inc.
Super Center Concepts, Inc
Ukas Big Saver Foods
Vons
Buy-Low Market
Glazier’s Food Marketplace
Mariana’s
The Sierra Nevada Trading Company
PC Hometown Market
Two Boys Grocery
Hometown Foods Drain
Red Apple
Halsey Select Market
Jefferson Hometown Market
Stewarts Market
Martins Food Center
Mill City Market Place
Mohler Co-Op
Steve’s Market
Food 4 Less
Price Slasher
Mt Hood Foods
Jack’s Family Market
Ken & Sons Select
Shady Cove Market
Sheridan Select
Noels Market Inc
Stanfield Main St Market
Thriftway
Sentry
Main Street Market
Auburn’s Main Street Market
Matthew’s Thriftway
Ralph’s Red Apple Market
Andy’s Market
Plaza Market
Holcomb’s Market
Bridle Trails Red Apple
Cascade Mercantile
Food Emporium
Pay-Less Supermarkets
