The USDA has extended its warning about beef imported from XL Foods for E. coli 0157:H7 to include 30 states and several major grocery store chains. Now Kroger, Safeway, and WalMart, among others, are listed as facilities that carried the products. The USDA’s FSIS has released another list of retail consignees that received the products. All beef and beef products produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29, and September 5, 2012 have been recalled by XL Foods.
The beef was sold in these stores in the United States: Albertson’s, Baker’s, City Market, Dillon’s, Food4Less, Foods Co., Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Haggan Northwest Fresh, Hilander, Jay C, King Soopers, Kroger, Owen’s Pay Less, QFC, Ralph’s, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Scott’s Smith’s Stores, TOP Food and Drug, and Walmart. The states where the meat was sold include: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia. (The list has these states; we don’t know the other 13 states involved.)
Canada revoked XL Foods’ permit to export beef to the United States on September 13, 2012 at the request of the USDA. Today, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency closed XL Foods and took possession of all of its products. None will be released for sale unless they test negative for E. coli 0157:H7.
If you have purchased beef or beef products, it’s a good idea to check with the store to see if those products are affected by this warning and the Canadian recall. The USDA has not issued a recall and has been criticized for not taking that step. So far, at least 890,000 pounds of boxed ground beef and beef trim is part of the warning. Government officials do not know how large the warning will get or if a recall will eventually be issued by U.S. authorities.
And if you or anyone you know has eaten beef products and experienced the symptoms of E. coli food poisoning, including severe cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, mild fever, nausea, and vomiting, see your doctor immediately. Complications of this infection can be severe, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that can lead to loss of kidney function and death.
