National Beef Packing Company of Liberal, Kansas is recalling about 22,737 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The problem was discovered through routine FSIS monitoring. There have been no reports of illness to date associated with the consumption of these products.
The following products are recalled: 10 pound packages of “National Beef” 80/20 Coarse Ground Chuck with package code “0481”. Also recalled are 10 pound packages of “National Beef” 81/19 Coarse Ground Beef, package code “0421” and 10 pound packages of “National Beef” 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck, package code “0484”. All of these products have a “use by/sell by date” of June 14, 2013. The products were produced on May 25, 2013 and shipped to institutions and retail establishments.
FSIS and public health officials think the ground beef may be in consumers’ freezers. Please check your freezer to see if you have these products. If you do, discard them and wash your hands after touching the product. For questions and more information, including reimbursement information, call the company at 877-857-4143.
FSIS advises all consumers to only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F. Test the food with a thermometer; this is the only way to confirm that the beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria. E. coli O157:H7 is a pathogenic, dangerous bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Some people can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after an E. coli infection that can lead to kidney failure.
