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Safeway Was Big Distributor of Recalled Cargill Beef

By PritzkerLaw

Safeway, Von's and Sam's Club are among retailers in nine states warning consumers that ground beef involved in a massive Cargill beef recall could be contaminated with a drug-resistant strain of Salmonella Newport.

Colorado has been hardest hit by the outbreak. The Colorado Department of Health and Environment has recorded about half of the 40 confirmed illnesses in the outbreak. Four people in Colorado were hospitalized but are recovering, state health officials say. Colorado Salmonella investigators found a high correlation between people sickened with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport and their consumption of ground beef purchased at Safeway stores.

In California, where Safeway is based, news reports say five confirmed illnesses have been found in Orange and Tulare counties. Safeway owns Von's, which has many stores in Southern California. The San Francisco Chronicle said Sam's Club also made an announcement about the recalled beef, which is probably in people's freezers by now if it hasn't already been eaten.

The Cargill ground beef recall encompanses nearly 43 tons of ground beef produced June 5-23 at the Fresno, California, plant that Cargill operates as Beef Packers Inc. An official notice from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said it may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonellosis.

The meat was distributed by Safeway in Colorado, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming. If the product was purchased from a retailer owned by Safeway, look for use-by dates between June 6 - July 14. Packages also should be stamped with the USDA establishment number EST. 31913.

If you or someone you love has been sickened as part of this outbreak, contact a Salmonella attorney at the Pritzker Olsen law firm. Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have filed Salmonella lawsuits for victims around the U.S. As one of the nation's leading food poisoning law firms, we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims and we are involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness.

Our experienced legal staff is ready to assist you at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online Salmonella compensation consultation form.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on August 07, 2009 (boomark / email).