080111 Minnesota Company Recalls Beef Over E. Coli Concerns

Rochester, MN - Rochester Meat Co. issued a nationwide recall this weekend when six people became ill after eating ground beef patties produced at the plant.

The local meatpacker recalled about 188,000 pounds of ground beef patties and some other products because of E. coli bacteria concerns. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the meat may be contaminated with a strain of bacteria -- E. coli O157:H7 -- that's potentially deadly and can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.

"To date no product produced at our plant has tested positive for E. coli," said Neal Karels, chief operating officer at Rochester Meat Co. "As an extreme precaution in the interest of public health Rochester Meat Co. volunteered to proactively recall the ground beef."

While Karels said there is definitely a possibility that some of the products are in Rochester, none of the products are sold by retailers. Rochester Meat Co. sells its products nationwide for use in restaurants and food service institutions, he said.

"By the end of Saturday, we had contacted all of our distributors and provided them with all of the necessary information so they can in turn contact all of their customers and get the product removed from commerce," Karels said.

Rochester Meat Co. purchases its raw material from large slaughter facilities mainly in the upper Midwest, Karels said, adding "All the raw material we use is tested for E. coli and must test negative prior to us receiving it."

Five illnesses were reported in Wisconsin and one in California, according to a report by the USDA. The affected beef was produced Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 and has been identified through the company's tracking system, Karels said.

Karels used the recall as an opportunity to stress the safe handling of meat.

"All ground beef is perfectly safe if handled properly and cooked to 160 degrees," he said.

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