E Coli Sparks Ground Beef Recall Sickens Nine

E Coli, Food Product Recalls

A Ground Beef Recall due to E Coli contamination comes as people are getting ready to have their holiday BBQ’s. This is an extremely urgent recall – already, nine people in three states have become ill as a result of this contaminated ground beef. Two of those sickened had to be hospitalized, but fortunately everyone has recovered so far. That is some good news, because E. coli is a particularly virulent type of food poisoning that can cause kidney failure and even death. It usually starts out with stomach cramping and severe diarrhea that may be bloody. Other symptoms include paleness, fever and weakness. While most people recover, some, like children and the elderly, can have a really hard time. Kidney problems are common, and if someone with E. coli symptoms suddenly has trouble passing urine, emergency medical treatment is needed. There have been cases where people with E. coli needed to undergo dialysis treatments.

The tainted beef should no longer be in stores, because it is way past its “Sell By” date. But consumers might still have the beef in their freezers, so it’s important to check any packages before they are used. This ground beef was sold by Interstate Meats of Oregon. under the “Northwest Finest” brand in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington between July 19 and July 30. Included in the recall are 16-ounce packages of “Northwest Finest 7% FAT, NATURAL GROUND BEEF” with a UPC code of 752907 600127. The recall also covers “Northwest Finest 10% FAT ORGANIC GROUND BEEF”. For some reason, the UPC code is not available for that variety. All of the packages bear the number “Est. 965” in the USDA inspection mark, and “Sell By” dates between August 1 and August 11.

Sadly, E. coli meat recalls are nothing new. Earlier this summer, United Food Group recalled a whopping 5 million pounds of the beef, while Tyson Fresh Meat, Inc. added to the total by recalling 40,000 pounds of its products. At the time, health officials said 14 people in six Western states were sickened by these tainted meats, but conceded that the number could be higher as not all cases of E. coli poisoning are reported. And E. coli is not just a meat problem. Last year, fresh baby spinach and bagged salad mix laced with E. coli killed three people and made more than 200 others sick. Why food processors can’t keep this stuff out of their products is a mystery. But until more is done to prevent this type of contamination, more people are sure to become very sick.