AP National

http://www.newsday.com/ap/text/national/ap335.htm

Beef Recalled in E. Coli Scare

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Washington state company is recalling 1,800 pounds of beef because it may have been contaminated with a lethal strain of E. coli bacteria.

Evergreen Meats Inc. of Port Angeles, Wash., announced the voluntary recall Monday in coordination with the Agriculture Department.There have been no reports of illnesses because of the beef, the Agriculture Department said.

Some of the beef being recalled is packaged in 10-pound cases labeled ''Evergreen Meats Ground Beef Patties.'' Also being recalled are 10-pound bags of ground beef labeled ''Evergreen Meats, Inc., Ground Beef.''

The meat was sold to wholesale establishments in Washington state on May 16 and the packaging may be marked with that date.The problem was discovered after routine inspection by the Agriculture Department.

The bacteria involved, E. coli 0157:H7, is potentially deadly and causes bloody diarrhea and dehydration.

People with questions can call Evergreen Meats at 1 (360) 457-8555.

On the Net: Agriculture Department: http://www.fsis.usda.gov

-- Swissrose (cellier3@mindspring.com), May 21, 2001

Answers

These recalls are not at all uncommon. They usually don’t get much media attention unless they are really big (e.g. Hudson Foods recall a few years ago of millions of pounds of meat).

For U.S. food recalls, see

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html

and

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/whatsnew.htm (under "Recall Information").

On the USDA site, you’ll note five beef-E.coli recalls in the past two weeks.

Cook your meat thoroughly; wash your hands; don’t cross-contaminate from raw to cooked.

Always assume any commercial meat is contaminated with Salmonella, Campylobacter, E.coli O157, etc. Cook it properly and then it’s safe.

It’s unfortunate we have to treat raw meat as though it’s toxic waste...

Salud, --Andre

-- Andre Weltman, M.D. (aweltman@state.pa.us), May 22, 2001.

Thank you for the usda web site. Good point about handling meat too. suzy

-- suzy (Its suzy 2@aol.com), May 22, 2001.