Texas Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Date of Recall

2007-06-08

Recall Details

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2007 - Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., a Sherman, Texas, establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 40,440 pounds of ground beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

	Preparing Ground Beef For Safe Consumption USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit www.fsis.usda.gov Although the product(s) being recalled should be returned to the point of purchase, consumers preparing other ground beef products should heed the following advice. Consumers should only eat ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe temperature of 160 °F. When a ground beef patty is cooked to 160 °F throughout, it can be safe and juicy, regardless of color. The only way to be sure a ground beef patty is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use an accurate food thermometer. Color is not a reliable indicator that ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7. Eating a pink or red ground beef patty without first verifying that the safe temperature of 160 °F has been reached is a significant risk factor for foodborne illness. Thermometer use to ensure proper cooking temperature is especially important for those who cook or serve ground beef patties to people most at risk for foodborne illness because E. coli O157:H7 can lead to serious illness or even death. Those most at risk include young children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems.

The products subject to recall include: [View Labels]

• 1.5-pound trays of "ANGUS STEAK BURGER ALL NATURAL, 85/15, 6- 1/4 POUND PATTIES."
• 1.33-pound trays of "ANGUS STEAK BURGER ALL NATURAL, 85/15, EXTRA THICK, 4- 1/3 POUND PATTIES."
• 2.25-pound trays of "73/27 ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF, CARNE MOLIDA DE RES."
• 5.5-pound trays of "73/27 ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF, CARNE MOLIDA DE RES."

Each label bears the establishment number "Est. 244S" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a "Use or Freeze By" date of "JUN 13 07."

The problem was discovered through trim sampling done by the company. The ground beef products were produced on June 2, 2007 and were distributed to retail establishments in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

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