A California company has decided to expand a recall of its beef products made during a two-week period amidst concerns of E. coli contamination.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture news release Saturday said that to limit any possible E. coli illnesses, about 5.7 million pounds of beef products will now be included in the recall from United Food Group LLC in Vernon, Calif.
The massive recall comes in the wake of the company's previous recalls last Sunday and Wednesday and includes all beef products produced April 6-20.
The products were added to the recall following a recent positive test for E. coli in Arizona, where a patient became ill after ingesting some of the company's fresh-ground beef.
The initial recall was instigated by an investigation by Colorado and California health officials into a spate of illnesses in those states and others between April 25 and May 18.
Those 14 patients have recovered from their illnesses, but their medical conditions helped prompt the first of the company's product recalls.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
Related stories:
Sandwich meats kill 15 in Canada
The death toll from contaminated deli meats in Canada has risen to 15, health officials said Wednesday, including an elderly woman who is said to have suffered terribly.
Tainted deli meats in Canada kill 12
The death toll from an outbreak linked to contaminated deli meats in Canada rose to 12 Monday, with several other people sickened, health officials said.
Source of Canadian listeria outbreak confirmed
Canadian authorities have confirmed a link between a listeria food poisoning outbreak that killed four people and products from Toronto food processor Maple Leaf Foods.
Whole Foods recalls possible E. coli-tainted beef
Whole Foods Market, the top US organic foods supermarket chain, announced this weekend a voluntary recall of fresh ground beef it sold since June 2 due to potential contamination with E. coli bacteria.
Even before tomato warning, many Americans lacked confidence in the food safety system
A new national study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health Project on the Public and Biological Security finds that, in spite of a number of food safety incidents in recent years, most Americans remain confident that the food produced in the United States is safe. However, many have concerns about the safety of imported food produced in some other countries. They also do not have high levels of confidence in parts of the U.S. food safety system and some of the organizations involved.
Probing Question: Is cloned meat safe to eat?
Picture the perfect steak. The first bite melts in your mouth, tender and dripping with flavor. You can barely keep chewing as your mind goes slack with joy. Yes, you could spend the rest of your life eating this same steak, over and over, with no complaint whatsoever.
Labeling error forces beef steak recall
The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of about 8,910 pounds of bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin products due to a labeling error.
Ground beef products are recalled
The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of 188,000 pounds of ground beef products due to possible contamination.