Cargill recalls 1 million pounds of beef possibly tainted by E. coli

Minneapolis ? Cargill Inc. said Saturday it is recalling more than 1 million pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, the second time in less than a month it has voluntarily recalled beef that may have been tainted.

No illnesses have been reported, said John Keating, president of Cargill Regional Beef.

The agribusiness giant produced the beef between Oct. 8 and 11 at a plant in Wyalusing, Pa., and distributed it to retailers across the country. They include Giant, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans and Weis.

Cargill learned the meat may be contaminated after the Agriculture Department found a problem with a sample of the beef produced on Oct. 8, the company said. The bacteria is E. coli O157:H7.

A spokeswoman for Cargill said 10 states are included in the recall – Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

“We are working closely with the USDA to remove this product from the marketplace,” Keating said in a statement. Spokeswoman Lori Fligge said the company had no further comment.

Amanda Eamich, a spokeswoman for the USDA Food and Safety Inspection Service, said her agency will work with Cargill to track the more than 1 million pounds of beef that could be contaminated and remove it from store shelves.

“We do look in all directions to ensure that products that could be contaminated are not available to consumers,” Eamich said.

The USDA said later Saturday it will increase the testing and re-inspection of poultry and meat imported from Canada.

“Effective next week, the FSIS will increase testing for salmonella, listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 and will require shipments be held until testing is complete and products are confirmed negative for these pathogens,” said Dr. Richard Raymond, the USDA undersecretary for food safety.

E. coli is harbored in the intestines of cattle. Improper butchering and processing can cause the E. coli to get onto meat. Thorough cooking, to at least 160 degrees internal temperature, can destroy the bacteria.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and people with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to E. coli.

People with questions about the recall are asked to call Cargill at (877) 455-1034.

Cargill Meat Solutions, based in Wichita, Kan., is the umbrella organization of Cargill’s beef, pork and turkey businesses.

The Wyalusing plant produces 200 million pounds of ground beef annually.

Cargill Inc., based in Wayzata, Minn., is one of the nation’s largest privately held companies. It makes food ingredients, moves commodities around the world and runs financial commodities trading businesses.

A glance at the beef products Cargill is recalling

The ground beef products that are being recalled by Cargill Inc., which said Saturday that more than 1 million pounds of ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria:

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-3.0-pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1- pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Ground Beef Patty.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 85/15 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-3-pound packages of “Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 90/10 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 93/7 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1-pound packages of “Century Farm 96/4 Extra Lean Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007 or 10/31/2007.

-1-pound packages of “Century Farm 85/15 Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date 10/19/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 93/7 Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Chuck Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm 80/20 Chuck Ground Beef for Chili.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Century Farm Meatloaf Mix, Beef, Pork and Veal with Natural Flavors.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007, 10/22/2007, 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-1.25- pound packages of “Giant 75/25 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-3.0- pound packages of “Giant 75/25 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.25-pound packages of “Giant 80/20 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-3.0-pound packages of “Giant 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Giant Eagle Ground Chuck Beef Patties 80/20.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007 or10/22/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Giant Eagle Ground Beef Patties 92/8.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/22/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Giant Eagle Ground Beef Patties 85/15 – Certified Angus Beef Brand.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007 or 10/22/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Giant Eagle Ground Round Beef Patties 85/15.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007 or 10/22/2007.

-3.0-pound packages of “Shop Rite, 80% Lean 20% Fat, Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-3.0-pound packages of “Shop Rite, 85% Lean 15% Fat, Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Shop Rite, 93% Lean 7% Fat, Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Shop Rite, 93% Lean 7% Fat, Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1-pound packages of “Shop Rite, 96% Lean 4% Fat, Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.25- pound packages of “Stop & Shop 75/25 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-5.0- pound packages of “Stop & Shop 75/25 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.25-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 80/20 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-1.25-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 85/15 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.2-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 87/13 Ground Beef Sirloin, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1- pound packages of “Stop & Shop 90/10 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.0-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 80/20 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 80/20 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-2.6-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 80/20 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 90/10 Ground Beef Patties, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-2.5-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 90/10 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007.

-2.5-pound packages of “Stop & Shop 93/7 Ground Beef, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1-pound packages of “Wegmans 80/20 Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Wegmans 90/10 Ground Beef Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007 or 10/22/2007.

-3.0- pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats, 73/27 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1- pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats, 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-3- pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats, 80/20 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007 or 11/03/2007.

-1-pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats 85/15 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-2.0 and 3.0 -pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats 85/15 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-2-pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats 93/7 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1-pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats 93/7 Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1-pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats 96/4 Ground Beef Extra Lean.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats 90/10 Ground Beef Sirloin Patties.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats Meatloaf Mix, Beef, Pork and Veal with Natural Flavors.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Weis Premium Meats 80/20 Ground Beef for Chili.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Meat Loaf Mix, Made with Beef, Pork, Veal, with Natural Flavors.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007 or 10/22/2007.

-1.25-pound packages of “Meatloaf Mix, A Blend of Fresh Ground Beef, Pork & Veal, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-Various weight packages of “85/15 Coarse Ground Beef for Chili Meat, All Natural.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/2007.

-1.3-pound packages of “Ground Beef Chuck for Chili 80/20.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/19/2007 or 10/22/2007.

-1.3 pound packages of “Price Rite 85% Lean, 15% Fat Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3 pound packages of “Price Rite 80% Lean, 20% Fat Ground Beef.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 11/03/2007.

-1.3 pound packages of “Price Rite Meat loaf mix.” Each package bears a Use by/freeze by date of 10/31/207 or 11/03/2007.