E. Coli O157:H7 Ground Beef Recall Issued for 864,000 Pounds of Meat

Nearly 900,000 pounds of ground beef and other beef products distributed by Huntington Meat Packing Inc. have been recalled due to the risk of illness from E. coli contamination.

The E. coli O157:H7 food recall was announced January 18, after an inspection by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Inspectors not only found possible E. coli contamination with recently distributed meat from the California-based company, but also reviewed the company’s records and found that some meat products distributed in 2008 also may have been contaminated. The FSIS says that some of the 2008 meat could possibly still be frozen in storage.

Health inspectors say the meat is contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, one of the more common causes of food poisoning in the United States. When left untreated, it can lead to dehydration and potentially life-threatening illness. While most healthy adults recover from food poisoning caused by E. coli within a few weeks, young children and the elderly could be at risk for more severe illness. If the toxin enters the blood stream, E. coli could also lead to kidney failure known as Hemolytic-Urenia Syndrome (HUS).

Although there have been no illnesses reported in connection to the contaminated Huntington beef products, a total of 864,000 pounds of meat have been recalled. These include products sent out this month and others that were distributed between February 2008 and May 2008.

The most recently distributed products affected by the recall include:

• 40 lb. boxes of “Huntington Meats Ground Beef”
• 40 lb. boxes of “HUNTINGTON MEAT PKG. INC. BEEF GROUND FOR FURTHER PROCESSING”
• 40 lb. boxes of “BEEF BURRITO FILLING MIX”
• 10 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”
• 20 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”
• 10 lb. boxes of “El Rancho MEAT & PROVISION ALL BEEF PATTIES”

All of those recalled beef products have an establishment number of 17967 inside the USDA mark of inspection and were produced between January 5 and January 15, 2010. The meat was sent to distribution centers, restaurants and hotels across California.

The 2008 products of concern include:

• 40 lb. boxes of “Huntington Meats Ground Beef”
• 40 lb. boxes of “HUNTINGTON MEAT PKG. INC. BEEF GROUND FOR FURTHER PROCESSING”
• 40 lb. boxes of “BEEF BURRITO FILLING MIX”
• 10 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”
• 20 lb. boxes of “IMPERIAL MEAT CO. GROUND BEEF PATTY”
• 10 lb. boxes of “El Rancho MEAT & PROVISION ALL BEEF PATTIES”

These products also have the 17967 establishment number. They were shipped between February 19, 2008 and May 15, 2008. The FSIS says it is recalling the 2008 products just in case there is still some meat in long-term storage. Most of the meat has likely already been consumed.

Anyone with questions about the recall should contact the company at (888)894-8242.

The CDC reports that there are about 76 million cases of food-related illnesses reported every year, with more than 300,000 people hospitalized and 5,000 deaths. There were at least nine major recalls of beef products in 2009.