Health Law

Tyson "Chubs" Sold To Sherm's Food In Medford May Be Tainted With E. Coli 0157:H7

By Marler Clark LLP

The U.S. Food Safety & Inspection Service is out with an "alert" about beef due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The public health alert is for approximately 808 pounds of ground beef products produced at Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., in Lexington, NE.

Here's the meat of the FSIS announcement:

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., (EST. 245L), sold chubs of 85 percent lean, 15 percent fat coarse ground beef to Sherm’s Food-4-Less retail establishment in Medford, OR who then processed this ground beef into various sized packages of ground beef products and sold to consumers between May 7 and 19.

FSIS is issuing a public health alert rather than a recall because FSIS has confirmed that none of the affected products remain available for sale at this retail establishment. Consumers that may have purchased various sized packages of ground beef products at this retail establishment between May 7 and May 19 are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard or return the ground beef products for a refund.

The problem was discovered after a microbiological test for E. coli O157:H7 was reported positive by another recipient of the product subject to this alert. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone with signs or symptoms of food-borne illness should consult a medical professional.

Gee, recalls are not used if products have been sold?  We are not sure we follow that reasoning.

Full post as published by e.Coli Blog on May 22, 2008 (boomark / email).