Ground Beef

  • 3 sick, ground beef recalled for possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination

    Posted: August 10th, 2011 - 2:59am by Doug Powell

    Government-types love to bury the lede.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) thinks the most important part of a recall is … the recall.

    I think the most important part of a recall is whether or not there are sick people.

    Working in conjunction with the Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), 3 case-patients in Michigan have been identified with illness onset dates between July 18 and July 28, 2011. As a result of the epidemiologic investigation, FSIS determined there is a link between the ground beef products and the illnesses in Michigan.

    McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC., a North Branch, Mich., establishment is recalling approximately 360 pounds of ground beef product products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

    The products subject to recall include:
    36 - 10 lb. Bags of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.”

    Each clear plastic bag bears establish number “EST. 33971” within the USDA mark of inspection. The products subject to recall were produced on July 15, and July 21, 2011, and sold to restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, Mich. The products were also sold from a retail establishment owned by McNees Meats and Wholesale, LLC.

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    E. coli  |  1 Comment
    e. coli O157, food safety, Ground Beef, Illness, McNees Meats, michigan
  • Valley Meats ground beef recalled due to E. coli

    Posted: May 21st, 2009 - 2:18pm by Casey Jacob

    Almost 100,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled today after an epidemiological investigation linked E. coli O157:H7 infections in three states to the products.

    The meat—sold frozen as ground beef, chopped steak, and pre-formed patties—was produced by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Illinois, on March 10, 2009 and distributed to various consignees nationwide.

    A USDA FSIS press release states,

    “The problem was discovered through an epidemiological investigation of illnesses. On May 13, 2009, FSIS was informed by the Ohio Department of Health of a cluster of     E. coli O157:H7 infections. Illnesses have been reported in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.”

    The pathogen, found in the poop of warm-blooded animals, can be killed with sufficient heat. 

    However, as the president and chief executive of the American Frozen Food Institute, Kraig R. Naasz, stated today in a letter to the editor of the New York Times,

    “While food safety is a shared responsibility among food producers, government agencies and consumers, we recognize that the primary responsibility rests with food producers. Providing consumers with safe and nutritious products is a responsibility frozen food producers stake their names and reputations on.”

    The letter was written in response to the Times’ May 15 article on frozen entrees, which Naasz felt did not “fully depict the frozen food industry’s commitment to product safety.”

    With the name and reputation of Valley Meats on the line, will they be able to demonstrate a similar commitment to the safety of food? As the data on those sickened by Valley Meats' products are released, it's likely we'll find out.
     

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    E. coli, Food Safety Culture  |  0 Comments
    Food Recall, Frozen Breaden Chicken, Ground Beef, Marketing Food Safety, Usda, Valley Meats
  • E. coli outbreak in ground beef linked to Whole Foods Markets

    Posted: August 9th, 2008 - 7:59am by Amy Hubbell

    When I was a graduate student at the University of Michigan, Whole Foods was adjacent to my apartment complex. It was cruel, really. I couldn’t afford to shop there very often but the food always looked so delicious, and, well, wholesome. Yesterday, however, Whole Foods Market recalled fresh ground beef sold between June 2 and August 6 for a possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

    Seven are sick in Massachusetts and two in Pennsylvania. None in Ann Arbor, yet.

    Whole Foods has successfully built its reputation on natural and organic foods with high prices to make you believe you are doing good to your body by shopping there. Personally, I shopped there for the wide array of cheeses and pâté that wasn’t available in my favorite (more affordable) grocery. This outbreak raises the question for me – why are people still getting sick from ground beef processed at Nebraska Beef Ltd. that was previously recalled? And, as Bill Marler points out, why was Whole Foods selling Nebraska Beef? He offers a list of hard-hitting questions for the elite grocery chain that touts its own high standards.

    On a side note, the Whole Foods that used to be in my backyard in Ann Arbor has since become a Trader Joe’s. Whole Foods moved down the street to a much larger and fancier location.

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    Ann Arbor, Beef, Ground Beef, Nebraska Beef, O157:h7, University Of Michigan, Whole Foods