Great Range Bison E. coli Recall
Rocky Mountain Natural Meats of Colorado is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in voluntarily recalling approximately 66,000 pounds of potentially contaminated bison products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The products in question were recalled as part of the investigation into an outbreak of E. coli with cases in Colorado and New York. While the sell-by dates for these products have passed, FSIS is aware that consumers may also freeze the product before use and there is concern that some product may still be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.
Estimates are imprecise, but microbiologists guess that more than 70,000 Americans fall ill every year from E. coli bacterial infections, the largest source of which is contaminated ground beef. Of those infected, more than 5 percent develop life-threatening HUS E. coli, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, the leading cause of kidney failure in children and the leading cause of E. coli deaths.
Here is a list of the recalled buffalo:
One pound packages:
- Great Range Brand Ground Bison label with the UPC# 016447 10090 6, with “sell or freeze by” dates of June 21, 22, and 24.
- Natures Rancher Ground Buffalo label with the UPC # 016447 10091 6 with “sell or freeze by” date of June 22.
- The Buffalo Guys Ground Bison with UPC# 852584 00030 9 and a package date of 0147.
12oz. packages:
- Great Range Brand Bison Steak Medallion with UPC# 016447 10026 5 and a “sell or freeze by” date of June 23 and 24, 2010.
- Great Range Brand Bison Sirloin Steak with UPC# 016447 10226 9 and a “sell or freeze by” date of June 20, 23 and 24, 2010.
Other products:
Various weight boxes of “BISON B TRIM.” These products bear a production date of May 21, 2010 and a Julian Code of 14110. The boxes also state “KEEP REFRIGERATED.”
Maryland Man Sick in E. coli Bison Outbreak
Another victim has been identified in the Rocky Mountain Natural Meats E. coli bison outbreak and recall, according to food safety attorneys at Pritzker Olsen law firm.
A man in Baltimore, Maryland became sick with E. coli O157:H7 after eating Great Range brand bison meat in mid June, say Pritzker Olsen attorneys, who represent the food poisoning victim. Great Range was one brand involved in the recall, which also included Nature’s Rancher and The Buffalo Guys brands.
The 28-year-old man was notified by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that the strain of E. coli O157:H7 that sickened him matched the strain that sickened others in Colorado and one in New York.
The food safety lawyers also represent a woman from Lakewood, Colorado, in a lawsuit filed last week against Rocky Mountain Natural Meats. That client was hospitalized for several days after eating bison meat bought at King Soopers grocery.
E. coli Lawsuit Filed in Rocky Mountain Meats Bison Outbreak
A Lakewood, Colorado woman who was hospitalized for an infection of E. coli O157:H7 after eating bison meat has filed a lawsuit against Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, Inc. of Henderson, Colorado, the processor of the meat.
According to the complaint, the woman purchased the bison product at a King Soopers grocery store in Lakewood, Colorado. Health officials used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to confirm that the strain of E. coli that infected the woman was genetically indistinguishable from a strain isolated from other people in Colorado.
According to the complaint, health officials then concluded that the woman was part of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Rocky Mountain Natural Meats bison meat that now has six confirmed cases, five in Colorado and one in New York.
“This outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to bison meat is a wake-up call,” said Fred Pritzker, the attorney representing the E. coli victim. “In the past and currently, bison meat has not been subject to the same E. coli O157:H7 testing requirements as ground beef. Many people assume that bison meat is safer than beef, but that reputation needs to be re-examined.”
In response to the outbreak investigation, Rocky Mountain Meats recalled 66,000 pounds of ground buffalo and bison steaks on July 2 that it said may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly bacterium that is banned in ground beef. The recalled meat was sold under the following brands: Great Range, Nature’s Rancher, The Buffalo Guys and Rocky Mountain Natural Meats.
“This outbreak and subsequent recall were preventable,” stated Pritzker. “It is in the best interest of consumers and the bison industry to require E. coli testing for bison products.”
