Iowa Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products for Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

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

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-029-2006 HEALTH RISK: HIGH
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Tara Balsley

Jim's Market and Locker, Inc. a Harlan, Iowa, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 5,226 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
 
 The products subject to recall include:
10-pound boxes of "PACKED FOR: DAVIS MOUNTAIN ORGANIC BEEF, 100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC 3-1 BEEF PATTIES." Each box bears the lot code "G6-540" or "G6-544."
Five-pound packages of "DAVIS MOUNTAINS 100% ORGANIC BEEF, LEAN GROUND BEEF 90/10." Each package bears the lot code "G6-544."
One-pound packages of "MASTER CHOICE 100% ORGANIC ANGUS BEEF, 90/10 GROUND BEEF." Each package bears the lot code "G6-544."
One-pound packages of "DAVIS MOUNTAINS 100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC GROUND BEEF." Each package bears the lot code "G6-544."
10.5-pound boxes of "NEBRASKA, BEEF GROUND BEEF PATTY 6 OZ." Each box bears the lot code "G6-541."
60-pound boxes of "SPECIALLY SELECTED FOR: FARNER-BOCKEN FOOD SERVICE BEEF PATTIE MIX 6/10#." Each box bears the lot code "G6-542."
One-pound packages of "PACKED FOR: IRWIN COUNTRY STORE, BEEF GROUND BEEF 16 OZ." The package bears the lot code "G6-541."
One-pound blocks of "PACKED FOR: IRWIN COUNTRY STORE, BEEF GROUND BEEF PATTIES 4-1." The product bears the code "G6-541."
10-pound boxes of "DISTRIBUTED BY: STUBE RANCH, WAGYU BEEF, BEEF GROUND BEEF PATTIES, 8 OZ. PATTIES." The product bears the lot code "G6-546."

Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 2424" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The problem was discovered through microbiological testing. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

The ground beef products were produced on August 31 and September 1 and distributed to one retail establishment in Iowa and distributors in Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Texas and Wisconsin.

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

Media and consumers with questions about the recall should contact company President Jim Goeser at (712) 755-5158.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ Food_Safety_Education/ Ask_Karen/. 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.