The US DDA has recalled approximately 545,000 pounds of ground beef.


Consumers are urged to check their freezers for possible E. coli contaminated ground beef.
Approximately 545,699 pounds of ground beef processed by Fairbank Farms in Ashville, N.Y. has been voluntarily recalled at the request of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service) According to information released by FSIS on Oct. 31, the ground beef may have been sold in some stores in Delaware, i.e., Acme, Giant, BJ’s, and Trader Joe’s. Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label.

The ground beef, packaged Sept. 15 and Sept. 16, had sell by dates ranging from Sept. 19, through Sept. 28. Though the “sell by dates” have come and gone, the Delaware Department of Agriculture is concerned that people may have purchased the product and put it in their freezers. Freezing will not eliminate the bacteria. Consumers are urged to return any product bearing the EST. 492 establishment number to the retail outlet from which it was purchased.

According to the FSIS http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_059_2009_Release/index.asp.

The recalled products include:
Trader Joes
1-pound packages of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF 85/15."
1-pound packages of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF 80/20."
NOTE: The sell-by dates for the above two products may be Oct. 6 or 7.
1-pound trays of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF PATTIES 96/4 EXTRA LEAN."
1-pound trays of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85/15."
Lancaster and Wild Harvest
1-pound trays of "LANCASTER BRAND 96/4 EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF."
1- and 2-pound trays of "LANCASTER BRAND 90/10 GROUND BEEF."
1-pound trays of "WILD HARVEST NATURAL 85/15 ANGUS GROUND BEEF."
BJ's
5-pound trays of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 15 % FAT" patties.
3- and 5-pound trays of "LEAN GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 7% FAT."
2.5-pound trays of "MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."
Giant
1-pound trays of "GIANT EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF 96/4."
1-pound trays of "GIANT MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."
1-pound trays of "GIANT NATURE'S PROMISE GROUND BEEF."
1-pound trays of "GIANT NATURE'S PROMISE GROUND BEEF PATTIES."

Two deaths have been reported by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the CDC, “Health officials in several states who were investigating a cluster of E. coliO157:H7 illnesses, with isolates that match by ‘DNA fingerprinting’ analyses, found that most ill persons had consumed ground beef, with several purchasing the same or similar product from a common retail chain. At least some of the illnesses appear to be associated with products subject to these recalls. A sample from an opened package of ground beef recovered from a patient's home was tested by the Massachusetts Department of Health and yielded an E. coliO157:H7 isolate that matched the patient isolates by DNA analysis.

“The cluster includes 28 persons from 12 states infected with matching strains of E. coli O157:H7. Of these, the genetic association of seven human isolates and the product isolate has been confirmed by an advanced secondary DNA test; secondary tests are pending on others.”

To date, Delaware Division of Public Health Epidemiology staff has had no E. coli O157:H7 related illness reported from this recall.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture Food Products Inspectors are canvassing Delaware outlets to determine if they received any of the products, if there have been any product returned as a result of the recall, and if there have been any illnesses reported to the outlets. To date, some product was received by outlets, no product has been returned, and no illnesses have been reported to the stores.

FSIS further states: “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 food borne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.?FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the 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 or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees. The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature.??

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atAskKaren.gov.

The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 888-674-6854, is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.?