Health Law

JBS Swift E. coli Recalls Linked to Illnesses in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin? And Canada?

By Marler Clark

Sometime in the early hours of June 28, JBS Swift Beef Company expanded the approximately 40,000 pounds of 'assorted beef primals' recalled on June 24 to include another approximately 380,000 pounds of 'assorted beef primals" due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

There are a lot of questions.  So, are the illnesses in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin? More than these eleven? Are these the only states that received product? Where internationally did the meat go (are the three Canadian cases somehow linked)? Which restaurants, grocery stores, schools, hospitals did the product land?  Why is the public not being informed?

As reported by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS):

Together with traceback information and laboratory data, the recall is being expanded as a result of FSIS' cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an ongoing investigation into 24 illnesses in multiple states, of which at least 18 appear to be associated.

The beef products were produced on April 21, 2009 and were distributed both nationally and internationally. A list of the products subject to the expanded recall attached – 104 Pages.

Each box bears the establishment number "EST. 969" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the identifying package date of "042109" and a time stamp ranging from "0618" to "1130." However, these products were sent to establishments and retail stores nationwide for further processing and will likely not bear the establishment number "EST. 969" on products available for direct consumer purchase. Customers with concerns should contact their point of purchase.

The recalled products include intact cuts of beef, such as primals, sub-primals, or boxed beef typically used for steaks and roasts rather than ground beef. FSIS is aware that some of these products may have been further processed into ground products by other companies. The highest risk products for consumers are raw ground product, trim or other non-intact product made from the products subject to the recall.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on June 28, 2009 (boomark / email).