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The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that Elizabeth, N.J.-based Topps Meat Company is voluntarily recalling over 300,00 pounds of frozen beef patties following fears of E.coli contamination.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday said 21 people in eight states might have developed E.coli infection following consumption of the suspected products. Topps said the suspected products contain "Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were manufactured on June 22, July 12 or July 23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced.
The illnesses reported so far have been spread across Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Topps said that this was the company's first recall in its 65-year history.
It added that the contamination was discovered through sampling done by the "New York Department of Health as part of their coordinated investigation with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention into several reported illnesses."
Meanwhile U.S. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Amanda Eamich said inspectors were looking at the safety measures in place at the Topps facility to determine the source of contamination.
Escherichia coli or (E. coli) is a bacterium normally found in the gut of human beings. Under normal circumstances, the bacteria play an important role in waste processing, vitamin K production, and food absorption from the large intestine.
However the E. coli strain O157:H7 is associated with a host of illnesses in man. Prime among these diseases are food poisoning, urinary tract infections, peritonitis, meningitis and septicemia.
The O157:H7 strain of E.coli was linked to the outbreak caused by fresh bagged spinach in late 2006. In the very young and the very old, E.coli can prove to be a fatal infection. E.coli is also found in raw and undercooked beef, infected water and milk.
Symptoms of E.coli infection include bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Most E.coli infections are linked to consuming undercooked, contaminated ground beef, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Consumers can prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection by cooking ground beef thoroughly and by avoiding drinking unpasteurized milk. Additionally washing hands carefully before preparing or eating food is also advised.
The following products are suspected of being contaminated with E.coli in the current recall:
Retail Products:
* 2-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 8 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.” UPC #74701-00065
* 2-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 3 OZ., 10 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.” UPC #74701-00125
* 3-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 6 OZ. PUB Burgers.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.” UPC #74701-00045
* 3-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 16 Hamburgers.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.” UPC #74701- 00005.
* 5-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 20 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.” UPC #74701-00055.
* 8-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 32 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or JUL 23 08.” UPC #74701-00185.
* 3-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 12 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.” UPC #74701-00025.
Foodservice Products:
* 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 6 OZ. FLAT, 27 PIECES.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 4 OZ. (4-1), 40 PIECES.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 4 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, 40 PCS.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 6 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, 27 PCS.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 8 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, 20 PCS.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT, 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGERS 80/20, 8 OZ. FLAT, 20 COUNT.” Each box bears a packed on date of “JUN 22 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT, 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGERS 85/15, 6 OZ. FLAT, 27 COUNT.” Each box bears a packed on date of “JUN 22 07.”
* 10-pound boxes of “Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS 5 OZ. (1/2”).” Each box bears a sell-by-date of “JUN 22 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “Topps HAMBURGERS, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 8 OZ. (Pub Burger).” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 4 OZ. (4-1) Homestyle.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ. FLAT, 20 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
* 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ FLAT, 32 COUNT.”
Topps said consumers who have the suspected products must throw it away or return it to the stores. Additionally they are advised to contact their doctor if they are ill from consuming the products.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the following guidelines to prevent E.coli infection,
* Cook all ground beef and hamburger thoroughly
* If you are served an undercooked hamburger or other ground beef product in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking.
* Wash fruits and vegetables under running water, especially those that will not be cooked.
* Make sure that persons with diarrhea, especially children, wash their hands carefully with soap after bowel movements to reduce the risk of spreading infection.
Following simple guidelines can prevent E.coli infections. However in the ground beef recall presently underway authorities are advising consumers to either throw away or return the suspected products.
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