E coli » ground beef recall

Valley Meat Beef Recall Follows E. coli Outbreak

Marni Ginther — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:57:00 +0000

Valley Meat Company of Modesto, CA has recalled one million pounds of ground beef following an E. coli outbreak in California, according to the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). Seven people have been sickened in the outbreak, which federal health officials began investigating in July after receiving notification from the California Department of Public Health regarding a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 cases that all matched the same PFGE pattern, or “genetic fingerprint.”

Distributed to institutional foodservice facilities and retail locations in Arizona, California, Texas and Oregon, the beef 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. FSIS will post retail distribution information updates as that information becomes available. The FSIS is concerned that consumers may still have frozen recalled product in their freezers at home that could potentially be contaminated. FSIS advises consumers to check freezers to see if any of the following recalled products are there, and discard them immediately:

Valley Meat Company Beef Recall: Product Details

(#2155) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 8/1R
(#2503) SMASHBURGER 40/7 OZ. – VAC PACK
(#2510) IQF 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 2/1 OVAL
(#2515) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 2/1 R
(#2535) IQF 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 3/1 OVAL
(#2545) IQF 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 3/1R
(#2575) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 4/1R
(#2595) IQF – 80/20% PATTIES 4/1R THIN
(#2605) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 5/1R
(#2635) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 6/1R
(#2668) BEEF CHUCK PATTIES 7 OZ- 21#
(#3075) *IQF* 85/15% PATTIES 4/1R USFI
(#3090) ‘RPQ’ 85/15 PATTIES 160/4 OZ.
(#3325) “RPQ” 90/10 BEEF PATTIES 40/4 OZ
(#3350) 90/10% BEEF PATTIES 160/4 OZ.
(#3450)SUPREMAS BEEF PATTIES 12/3#
(#3519) *IQF* 4/1 SOY PATTIES 80/20%
(#3520) *IQF* 5/1 SOY PATTIES 80/20%
(#3522) *IQF* 6/1 SOY PATTIES 80/20%
(#3675) BEEF SOY PATTIES RETAIL 6/5#
(#3700) 73/27% RETAIL PATTIES – 12/3#
(#3705) 73/27% RETAIL PATTIES – 6/5#
(#3710) 73/27% RETAIL PATTIES – 8/3#
(#3715) BIGGER VALLEY BURGER – 6/5#
(#3725) 80/20 BIGGER BURGER 12/3#
(#3751) 80/20% RETAIL PATTIES 12/3#
(#3800) 85/15% RETAIL PATTIES – 12/3#
(#3850) BLACK ANGUS BURGER 12/2# BOX
(#3875) 93/7% BEEF PATTIES 12/3# RETAIL
(#3880) SAFEWAY 73/27 RETAIL BOXES 8#
(#3882) SAFEWAY 73/27 PATTIES 12/2.5#
(#3883) SAFEWAY 80/20 PATTIES 12/2.5#
(#4000) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 10/1#
(#4001) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 20/2#
(#4005) 73/27% GROUND BEEF – 40/1#
(#4015) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 4/5#
(#4020) 73/27% GROUND BEEF – 8/5#
(#4030) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4035) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 15/3#
(#4300) 80/20% GROUND BEEF 10/1#
(#4305) 80/20% GROUND BEEF – 40/1#
(#4310) 80/20% GROUND BEEF 4/5#
(#4315) 80/20% GROUND BEEF 8/5#
(#4325) 80/20% GROUND BEEF – 4/10#
(#4326)*FRESH** 80/20% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4328)80/20 GROUND BEEF 4/10# WHITE BOX
(#4329) ‘RPQ’ 80/20% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4335)80/20% GROUND BEEF 2/5# – PRINTED
(#4610) 85/15% GROUND BEEF 4/5#
(#4615) 85/15% GROUND BEEF 8/5#
(#4625) “RPQ” 85/15% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4630) 85/15% G B 4/10# CLEAR-generic
<>(#4915) 90/10% GROUND BEEF – 8/5#
(#4925) 90/10% GROUND BEEF 4/10# / WHITE
(#4930) 90/10% G B 4/10# / CLEAR-generic
(#4980) 93/7% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(2714) HEARST 80/20 PATTIES 5/1R -10#
(2715) HEARST GROUND BEEF 12/1# RETAIL

E. coli food poisoning infections can lead to life-threatening complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (E.coli HUS) especially in children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems. Anyone who thinks they may have an E. coli infection from contaminated ground beef should visit a doctor immediately and get tested for the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

Recalled WinCo Beef Sold in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington

Kathy Will — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:06:45 +0000

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director Dr. Mark Horton has warned consumers not to eat ground beef products being recalled by WinCo Food stores. The recalled ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a dangerous pathogen that can cause hemolytic anemia, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and thrombotic thrombocytopenic pupura (TTP).

The recalled ground beef was sold at WinCo Food stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The ground beef is packaged in Styrofoam trays and the packaging is marked with sale dates from March 28 to April 9.

Earlier this month WinCo recalled some ground beef products sold by its Modesto store after two surveillance samples tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Friday, an additional surveillance sample tested positive for E. Coli 0157:H7. No illnesses have been linked to the recalled ground beef products at this time.

The CDPH warns:

Consumers with recalled products should either throw the product away or return it to the point of purchase for a refund. Under no circumstances, should consumers eat this recalled beef.

2009 Ground Beef E. coli Recalls Exceed 1 Million Pounds

Pritzker Olsen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:19:26 +0000

According to a year-end review of federal records by national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, more than 1 million pounds of ground beef and beef cuts intended for grinding were recalled from market this year due to evidence of E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

The largest of the 15 recalls from USDA-inspected slaughter and grinding plants covered 545,699 pounds of ground beef produced this fall by Fairbank Farms of Ashville, N.Y.

Multi-state E. coli outbreaks associated with these recalls killed at least three people and sickened at least 80, according to the records. The outbreaks resulted in at least 34 hospitalizations and eight confirmed cases of life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a disease especially dangerous to children that causes kidney failure and many other serious health conditions.

Since January 2007, the industry has initiated at least 52 recalls of beef tainted with E. coli O157:H7 compared with 20 in the three previous years, according to the New York Times.

“This data points to the need for sweeping change in the way food safety is regulated in this country,” Fred Pritzker, founder and president of Pritzker Olsen, said in a news release. ”While I agree we cannot ‘test’ our way out of this situation, the current regulatory schemes incentivize producers not to test their product. This is wrong and dangerous and needs to changed.”

At least 24 people from nine states were infected by the same strain of E. coli that Michigan public health investigators found in ground beef produced by JBS Swift Beef Co. There was an initial recall of 41,280 pounds, but it was soon widened to include 380,000 pounds of the product.

A smaller ground beef E. coli outbreak killed a 7-year-old Cleveland girl. Ohio health investigators associated her death with contaminated ground beef from Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Ill., which recalled 95,898 pounds of potentially tainted hamburger meat in May that had been delivered to restaurants.

Another isolated but disturbing hamburger E. coli outbreak occurred in October at a nature camp in Plymouth, Mass. In that case, more than 20 children and chaperons from a middle school in Rhode Island were sickened by contaminated ground beef traced to a meat packer in Brockton, Mass.

The Fairbank Farms recall was associated with an outbreak that killed two people and sickened 26. Records show 19 people were hospitalized and five developed HUS.

Retail Store List for Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak

Kathy Will — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:02:55 +0000

By Kathy Will

Our national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is compiling a list of retail stores known to have sold beef products recalled in the ground beef E. coli outbreak associated with JBS Swift Beef Co.

The Greeley, Colorado, plant of JBS Swift has recalled 421,000 pounds of beef, much of it destined to be store-packaged ground beef sold on foam trays covered in plastic wrap. The initial recall was nearly a week ago and neither the company nor the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), which regulates the U.S. meat supply, has provided consumers with an accessible list of places where the potentially deadly beef was distributed for retail sale.

Fred Pritzker, president and founder of Pritzker Olsen, has been critical of the omission. “In a day and age when you can track a personal package from your computer, minute-by-minute, you would think five days after a serious recall the public could know where potentially deadly meat ended up,” Pritzker said in a published editorial.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 23 people in nine states are believed to have been sickened by the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. At least a dozen patients were hospitalized and two suffered a dangerous complication known as HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Ground Beef Recall Issued by Valley Meats LLC

Kathy Will — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:14:13 +0000

By Kathy Will

A ground beef recall has been issued by Valley Meats LLC after federal and state health officials associated consumption of Valley Meats ground beef with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Valley Meats recalled about 95,898 pounds of ground beef products.

Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm, is investigating this outbreak and represents vicitms of E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef. We have handled enough of these cases to know when an offer of compensation for a victim is too low.

The recalled ground beef products were produced on March 10, 2009, and were distributed to various consignees nationwide.

The products subject to recall include:

3S Brand Products:

10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN 3/S 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each package bears the identifying case code “95554.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 60 (6-1) “KEEP FROZEN 3/S 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each package bears the identifying case code “95556.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN 3/S CHOPPED BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK BURGER.” Each package bears the identifying case code “95573.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN 3/S CHOPPED BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK BURGER.” Each package bears the identifying case code “95574.”

Grillmaster Brand Products:

10-pound cases containing a total of 100 (10-1) “KEEP FROZEN GRILL MASTER 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95588.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 20 (2-1) “KEEP FROZEN GRILL MASTER 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95500.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN GRILL MASTER 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95502.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN GRILL MASTER 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” The cases can be identified by the case codes “95504” and “95505.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 50 (5-1) “KEEP FROZEN GRILL MASTER 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95508.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 60 (6-1) “KEEP FROZEN GRILL MASTER 100% GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95509.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN GRILL MASTER BEEF PATTIE.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95512.”

J & B Brand Products:

10.5 pound cases containing a total of 28, 6-ounce “KEEP FROZEN BEEF HOAGIE PATTIE.” Each package bears the identifying case code “51706.”
10.5 pound cases containing a total of 14, 12-ounce “KEEP FROZEN BEEF DINNER PATTIE.” Each package bears the identifying case code “51312.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN TENDERKNIT BEEF STEAK CHOPPED AND FORMED.” Each package bears the identifying case code “11028.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “TENDERKNIT BEEF STEAK CHOPPED AND FORMED.” Each package bears the identifying case code “11024.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 10 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN TENDERKNIT VEAL LUNCHEON CHOPPED AND FORMED.” Each package bears the identifying case code “13014.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN SEASONED GROUND BEEF PATTIE.” Each package bears the identifying case code “11384BR.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 packages (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN BEEF STEAK BURGER.” Each package bears the identifying case code “J1004.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN FLAVOR BURST BEEF PATTIE.” Each package bears the identifying case code “51803.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN FLAVOR BURST BEEF PATTIE.” Each package bears the identifying case code “51804.”

Klub Brand Products:

10-pound cases containing a total of 20 (2-1) “KEEP FROZEN KLUB GROUND BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95565.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN KLUB GROUND BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95567.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN KLUB GROUND BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95568.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 20 (2-1) “KEEP FROZEN KLUB HOMESTYLE GROUND BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95583.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN KLUB HOMESTYLE GROUND BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95584.”

Thick ‘N Savory Brand Products:

10-pound cases containing a total of 20 (2-1) “KEEP FROZEN THICK ‘N SAVORY SEASONED BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95579.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN THICK ‘N SAVORY SEASONED BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95580.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN THICK ‘N SAVORY SEASONED BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “95581.”

Ultimate Brand Products:

10-pound cases containing a total of 20 (2-1) “KEEP FROZEN ULTIMATE BURGER CHOPPED BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “1012CL.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN ULTIMATE BURGER CHOPPED BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “1013CL.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN ULTIMATE BURGER CHOPPED BEEF STEAK.” Each case can be identified by the case code “1014CL.”

Products with No Specified Name Brand:

10-pound cases containing a total of 20 (2-1) “KEEP FROZEN ULTIMATE BURGER CHOPPED BEEF STEAK.” Each case bears the case code “50123.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN ULTIMATE BURGER CHOPPED BEEF STEAK.” Each case bears the case code “50125.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN ULTIMATE BURGER CHOPPED BEEF STEAK.” Each case bears the case code “50127.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 30 (3-1) “KEEP FROZEN PURE BEEF PATTIE HEARTY HOMESTYLE.” Each case bears the case code “3253.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 40 (4-1) “KEEP FROZEN PURE BEEF PATTIE HEARTY HOMESTYLE.” Each case bears the case code “3254.”
10-pound cases containing a total of 50 (5-1) “KEEP FROZEN PURE BEEF PATTIE HEARTY HOMESTYLE.” Each case bears the case code “3255.”
24.75-pound cases containing a total of 144 “KEEP RERIGERATED GROUND BEEF PATTY.” Each case can be identified by the case code “8218.”
20-pound cases containing a total of 4 (4 X 5) “KEEP REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF.” Each package bears the identifying case code “8020EC.”
40-pound cases containing a total of 8 (8 X 5) “KEEP REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF.” Each package bears the identifying case code “8020VP.”
20-pound cases containing a total of 4 (4 X 5) “KEEP REFRIGERATED GROUND BEEF.” Each package bears the identifying case code “8515.”
20-pound cases containing a total of 4 (4 X 5) “KEEP FROZEN GROUND BEEF.” Each package bears the identifying case code “8020ECF.”
20-pound cases containing a total of 4 (4 X 5) “KEEP FROZEN GROUND BEEF.” Each package bears the identifying case code “10201.”
20-pound cases containing a total of 4 (4 X 5) “KEEP FROZEN GROUND MEAT.” Each package bears the identifying case code “10301.”

Additionally, each product bears the establishment number “EST. 5712” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The (2-1), (3-1), (4-1), (5-1) and (6-1) markings refer to the number of portions per one-pound.

Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak Associated with Valley Meats

Pritzker Olsen — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:45:23 +0000

By Pritzker Olsen

Several people in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania have been diagnosed with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7.Â The common link is that they consumed ground beef produced by Valley Meats LLC, an Illinois firm, according to federal health officials. This outbreak has prompted Valley Meats to recall over 95,000 pounds of ground beef products.

Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm, is investigating this ground beef E. coli outbreak and is currently representing E. coli outbreak victims throughout the United States.Â Read about the Valley Meats ground beef recall and lawsuit.

Victims of this ground beef E. coli outbreak may contact our law firm regarding seeking compensation from Valley Meats for the following:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Pain
Emotional distress
Disability
Other damages

Compensation for victims of ground geef E. coli outbreaks may include amounts for future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of income.

Compensation is generally higher for victims who are hospitalized.Â If the victim develops hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), that person will most likely spend weeks or months in the hospital and may never fully recover.Â HUS is a severe illness that can cause organ damage and failure, primarily kidney failure.Â Pancreatitis and brain damage are also quite common.Â Between five and ten percent of the people who develop E. coli-HUS die.

E. coli contamination is preventable.Â Our job as food safety lawyers is to obtain the best possible compensation package for E. coli outbreak victims and to exact enough pain (money) from the parties responsible for the E. coli food poisoning to help prevent another outbreak.

To contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.