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Ground Beef Recalled Over E. coli O157

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

A California company is recalling approximately 3,170 pounds of fresh ground beef patties and other bulk packages of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Saturday.
American Food Service of Pico Rivera distributed the beef to restaurants throughout Southern California.
FSIS inspection personnel were made aware of the problem when contacted by another federally regulated establishment that believed it had received suspect product.
FSIS and American Food Service are concerned that some product may be frozen and in restaurant freezers. 
The ground beef products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST. 1913" inside the USDA mark of inspection.  To see the labels click here. The following products, produced on Jan. 31, 2011, (with the corresponding case codes) are subject to recall:
-- (559002) American Companies 100% Pure Ground Beef 30-lb. case
-- (552102) American Companies 2/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (553102) American Companies 3/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (554102) American Companies 4/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (554106) American Companies 4/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (554302) American Companies 4/1 L Ground Beef Patties 80/20 20-lb. case
-- (555302) American Companies 5/1 L Ground Beef Patties 80/20 20-lb. case
-- (556102) American Companies 6/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (553302) American Companies 3/1 L Ground Beef Patties 80/20 20-lb. case
-- (554402) American Companies 4/1 J Ground Beef Patties 80/20 20-lb. case
-- (557102) American Companies 7/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (556106) American Companies 6/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (552106) American Companies 2/1 R Ground Beef Patties 80/20 10-lb. case
-- (559004) American Companies Ground Beef Bulk 80% Lean Taco Grind 60-lb. case
-- (559202) American Companies 100% Pure Ground Beef For Chili (Coarse Grind) 30-lb. case.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that firms notify their customers (including restaurants) of a recall and that steps are taken to make certain that a suspect product is no longer available to consumers. 
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.
Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact the company's Customer Service Supervisor, Mario Hernandez, at 562-801-4100 ext. 238. 

Full post as published by Food Safety News on February 06, 2011 (boomark / email).