Meat Industry INSIGHTS Newsletter

971071 BeefAmerica Recalls 168,000 Lbs of Ground Beef

October 31, 1997

CHICAGO - BeefAmerica Operating Co said it has initiated the recall of about 168,000 lbs of ground beef produced October 21, after a sample was found to be contaminated with E.coli O157:H7 bacteria, the company said.

BeefAmerica president Robert Norton said no illnesses related to the beef have been reported. Most of the beef remained at the distribution level and had not reached stores or other end users.

"We believe the majority of this product is at the distribution level," Norton told Reuters.

REUTERS

The recall occurs while a meat safety conference was under way in Chicago. Minnesota state epidimeologist, Michael Osterholm, who spoke Tuesday at the conference, said it is impossible to ensure meat is free from E.coli or other bacteria.

As testing procedures have improved, detection of E.coli O157:H7 and other strains of E.coli in meat have increased, Osterholm said. He said thorough cooking of meat will kill the bacteria.

"We need to make it a norm to not eat undercooked hamburger," he said.

This Article Compliments of...

Press for Information on Placing Your Ad Here

Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Web Site: http://www.spcnetwork.com/mii