California Firm Recalls Beef Cheek Product Due To Possible E. Coli

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released the following information:

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2008 – Beef Packers, Inc., a Fresno, Calif., firm, is recalling approximately 1,560 pounds of beef cheek products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:
30-pound boxes of "CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, BEEF CHEEK MEAT – SM BX."

Recommendations to Consumers for Safe Food Handling

Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Also wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot soapy water. Clean up spills right away.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Cook raw meat and poultry to safe minimum internal temperatures – as measured with a food thermometer:

meat such as beef, veal and lamb, 145 °F
ground beef and pork, 160 ºF, and
poultry, 165 ºF

Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase (one hour if temperatures exceed 90º F). Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking (one hour if temperatures exceed 90 °F).  
  
 These boxes of beef cheek meat products bear the establishment number "EST. 354" and a "PACKED ON" date of "07/02/08," ink-jet printed on the label, however, the product was intended for further processing or for packaging as raw beef cheek meat and will likely not bear the establishment number "EST. 354" on products available for direct consumer purchase.

The problem was discovered by company microbiological testing.

These beef cheek products were shipped to distributors in Fresno, Modesto, Santa Rosa and Vernon, Calif.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company's Consumer Line at 1-800-545-1679. Media with questions should contact company Director of Communications Mark Klein at (952) 742-6211.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Type of Recall:
Class I - This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.