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Kroger Recall and E. coli Outbreak Update

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

In response to the multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to ground beef purchased in the Kroger chain of grocery stores, Kroger has recalled the affected ground beef.  The recalled product is limited to ground beef sold between May 21 and June 8, 2008 that have a Kroger label.  The product is no longer available in stores, and anyone who may still be in possession of the affected product is instructed to discard it immediately. The product was distributed to Kroger stores in Michigan and in the cities of Toledo and Columbus, Ohio. Read more about the Kroger recall.

The CDC reports that 33 E. coli O157:H7cases have been linked to this outbreak (16 in Michigan, 17 in Ohio).  The CDC also reports that the state agencies recovered samples of the Kroger ground beef, and after having undergone molecular fingerprinting, the sample was shown to match the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. Read CDC information regarding the Kroger E. coli outbreak.

The Kroger recall is the second recall involving ground beef this month. On June 8, Dutch’s Meats recalled 13,275 pounds of ground beef that was distributed around the Trenton, New Jersey area. The recalled products were packaged between May 27 and June 6, 2008, roughly the same period as the affected Kroger ground beef.  Although Dutch’s Meat did not supply any ground beef to Michigan or Ohio Kroger stores, the two companies may have acquired contaminated beef trim from the same processor or supplier.  

The source of Kroger’s contaminated ground beef has not yet been identified, but the similarities in the two recalls occurring in the same time frame leave open the possibility of another responsible party. Victims of the Kroger E. coli outbreak may be entitled to compensation from a number of responsible parties. Read more about a Kroger lawsuit.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has already recognized the danger of contaminated beef trim.  Being distributed to multiple companies for use as ground beef, one source of contaminated beef could cause widespread outbreak, such as the multistate Kroger E. coli outbreak.  FSIS has already decided to implement a stricter testing policy for beef trim suppliers to decrease the number of E. coli-related ground beef recalls.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on June 26, 2008 (boomark / email).