The USDA is reminding consumers to use a food thermometer when cooking this holiday weekend. There is an ongoing E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with undercooked hamburgers that has sickened at least 11 people in four states. That outbreak is also associated with a recall of 1.8 million pounds of ground beef produce by Wolverine Packing Company. Just remember to practice safe food handling techniques to protect yourself and your family. The pathogenic bacteria that cause foodborne illness are killed when foods are heated to the correct temperature. For ground beef and other ground meats, that is 160°F. Hot dogs should be cooked to 165°F, poultry to 165°F, whole cuts of pork, beef, lamb, and veal to 145°F (followed by a three-minute rest time), and fish to 145°F. Whole cuts of … [Read more...]
USDA Store List for Ground Beef Recalled for E. coli O157:H7
The USDA has posted a retail list for ground beef packed by Wolverine Packing Company that is being recalled for possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The beef is associated with an E. coli outbreak in four states that has sickened at least 11 people. Most of those in the outbreak ordered rare hamburgers at restaurants. The outbreak count is as follows: five people are sick in Michigan, four in Ohio, 1 in Missouri and 1 in Massachusetts. The ground beef was sold in many states. The following stores may have sold the hamburger: Gordon Food Service Marketplace in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. In Florida, Surf N Turf Market in Sebring and Giorgio's Italian Deli in Stuart are listed. In Georgia, Blairsville Seafood Market in … [Read more...]
USDA Testing Ground Beef for Salmonella; What About E. coli?
On Friday, May 16, 2014, the USDA announced that they are enhancing their food safety testing program for ground beef this summer. The government says that they have safeguards in place to reduce E. coli in ground beef, but are now including tests for Salmonella every time their labs test for E. coli in samples of ground beef and ground beef sources. But an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Michigan and Ohio that is associated with undercooked ground beef underscores the fact that consumers must still be vigilant when eating any beef products. It is impossible to test every single portion of hamburger or ground beef sold in this country, so it's important that consumers not eat any undercooked hamburger or rare burgers to protect themselves. Still, this is a significant change in USDA … [Read more...]
Ohio E. coli Cases May Be Linked to MI Outbreak
Four Ohio E. coli cases may be part of the outbreak in Michigan that has sickened 5 people who ate undercooked ground beef, Food Poisoning Bulletin has learned. The Ohio Department of Health is investigating four cases of E. coli O157 that are a genetic match to the cases in Michigan, Melanie Amato, a department spokeswoman said. "The Michigan and Ohio cases might have a common source, but we cannot confirm that at this time; the investigation into a common source is ongoing. ODH is working with our local, state and federal partners to try and identify the common source for these cases," she said. Yesterday, the Michigan Department of Health reported that five people from five different counties had contracted E. coli poisoning from undercooked ground beef served at restaurants. … [Read more...]
