Colorado-based JBS-Swift Beef Co is voluntarily expanding its June 24 recall

[2NJSons_Mom]

U.S. beef recall expanded, 18 illnesses suspected

 2 hrs 40 mins ago
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A Colorado meat company is expanding a recall of beef due to possible contamination by E.coli O157:H7 bacteria after an investigation found 18 illnesses may be linked to the meat, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Sunday.

Greeley, Colorado-based JBS-Swift Beef Co is voluntarily expanding its June 24 recall to include about 380,000 lbs of assorted beef products, USDA said. The original recall was for 41,280 lbs.

The affected beef was produced on April 21 and was distributed nationally and internationally.

E.coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and, in severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors, and persons with weak immune systems are at the most risk.

Consumers with questions can call 1-800-685-6328.

JBS Swift is a unit of Brazilian meat company JBS S.A..

(Reporting by Bob Burgdorfer; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090628/hl_nm/us_jbs_beef_recall

[Nut44x4]

Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Hannaford warns consumers about recalled beef
http://www.cnycentral.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=318610
SCARBOROUGH, MAINE (AP) -- Hannaford Supermarkets is warning its customers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont to check their freezers for recalled beef.
Spokesman Mike Norton says the supermarket chain learned on Sunday that its stores may have received beef that's subject to a voluntary recall by Colorado-based JBS Swift Beef Co.

He says customers should check their freezers for any ground beef or beef products with sell-by dates ranging from April 28 through June 6. Hannaford will provide a refund or replacement of any beef or ground beef product purchased at our stores.

JBS Swift announced Sunday it's voluntarily expanding its beef recall to include about 380,000 pounds of products because of possible E. coli contamination.

Hannaford operates stores in Watertown, Herkimer, and the suburbs of Utica.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6506507.html
]H-E-B recalls meat sold in 68 Houston stores
By ALLAN TURNER
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
July 1, 2009, 6:55PM
The H-E-B grocery chain Wednesday joined a national recall of beef products that are thought to have sickened at least 18 people with potentially deadly E. coli infections.
H-E-B spokeswoman Cyndy Garza-Roberts said potentially contaminated briskets, skirt steaks and ground meat may have been sold through the chain’s 68 area supermarkets. No illnesses, however, have been reported in Texas.
The H-E-B action is part of a voluntary recall initiated in June by the JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo. Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service found that as many as 380,000 pounds of the beef processed at the plant in April might be contaminated.
The meat was distributed to at least 14 states. Spokesmen for Wal-Mart, Kroger, Fiesta and Randall’s supermarkets Wednesday said their stores do not sell JBS Swift beef.
H-E-B’s recall affects briskets bearing plant inspection stamp #969(EST#969) and sell dates between May 12 and June 20; raw beef inside skirt steaks in foam trays with sell dates between May 4 and June 20; Hill Country Fare beef for fajitas with sell-by-date of May 23; and any fresh beef in a foam tray with sell dates between May 9 and June 20.
Although voluntary, Swift’s recall was designated “Class 1” by the USDA, meaning that the health risk is high.
The E. coli bacterium can lead to bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure. Young or old people and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable.
Garza-Roberts said customers who bought the possibly contaminated products can obtain replacements or refunds by returning the items to the store.
Customers with questions or concerns may contact H-E-B representatives at 1-800-432-3113.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6507410.html
12 hospitalized in connection with E. coli in beef
By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press Writer © 2009 The Associated Press
July 1, 2009, 6:36PM
WASHINGTON — At least 12 people, two of them suffering kidney failure, have been hospitalized in connection with a possible E. coli outbreak in beef suspected of having sickened people in nine states, federal health officials said Wednesday.
The victims may have become ill after eating beef produced by JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The number of people reported ill so far is 23.
The company recalled about 380,000 pounds of beef on Sunday after some illnesses were reported and a government investigation showed a possible connection to the company's product. That recall expanded a June 24 recall of just over 41,000 pounds.
The CDC said health officials in several states investigating the strain of E. coli found that most ill persons had consumed ground beef, and many reported that it was undercooked. Ground beef with the strain of E. coli was obtained from the home of one person infected.
"At least some of the illnesses appear to be associated with products subject to these recalls," the CDC said in a statement on its Web site.
The first reported illness began on April 2, according to the CDC, and the last on June 13. Wisconsin and Michigan appear to be the hardest hit by the outbreak so far, with six ill people in each state identified by the CDC.
Other cases were reported in California, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York.
The CDC did not specify the states in which people were hospitalized. The agency said that two of those who fell ill suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure.
Kidney failure is found in the most severe cases of E.coli. In less serious cases, the potentially deadly bacterium can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.
The outbreak comes on the heels of a recall of Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products and just before the 4th of July holiday, when many Americans are preparing to grill hamburgers outdoors.
Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a longtime critic of the food safety system, said this week she is concerned it took too long for JBS Swift to recall the meat. The beef was produced April 21, according to the company and the Agriculture Department.
"It is deeply troubling that it has been over two months since this meat was produced and only now are we learning that thousands of Americans have potentially been exposed to E. coli-tainted beef," said DeLauro, who heads the House subcommittee in charge of Agriculture Department spending. "I urge the USDA to aggressively and expeditiously investigate."
The department's Food Safety and Inspection Service initially took a sample of the beef on May 21 that tested positive for the strain, according to the agency. Because that beef did not enter the food supply, officials did not urge a recall. A follow-up investigation, including information from the illnesses reported, prompted FSIS to go to the company and request the recall, an agency spokesman said.
"Until recently, there was not adequate evidence suggesting a link between this source material and illnesses," said FSIS spokesman Brian Mabry.
In a statement, JBS Swift said it sold the meat as whole muscle cuts and may have been ground by retailers who purchased it. Raw ground beef is considered the highest risk to consumers.
As part of the recall, The Kroger Co. said earlier this week that it is recalling packages of meat with "sell by" dates of April 27 to June 1 in the Cincinnati-Dayton region that includes northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana; and in western Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Illinois and eastern Missouri. The company said the suspect beef was sold under its store brands in more than a dozen states.
Kroger-owned Food 4 Less stores in the Chicago area, Fry's stores in Arizona and Smith's stores in Arizona, Utah, and other western states were also included in the recall.
Other grocery retailers are also affected, such as Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets and Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop. Hannaford has urged customers in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont to check freezers for the recalled beef.