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E. Coli Worries Prompt Oregon Firm to Recall Ground Beef
Jun 3, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Potentially E. coli tainted ground beef is being recalled by SP Provision of Portland, Oregon. According to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the recall involves 39,973 lbs of ground beef sold under the brand names Cascade Natural Beef and SP Provisions.The recalled ground beef products were produced on various dates from April 8, 2009 through May 28, 2009, and were distributed to retail establishments as well as hotels, restaurants and institutions in Oregon and Washington. The products, produced from the same source material, were distributed prior to May 29, 2009.
The potential for contamination with E. coli O157:H7 was discovered through microbiological sampling conducted by the USDA's Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS). FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products, however, the recall has been deemed a Class I recall, the department's most serious type of recall actions
The products involved in this ground beef recall include the following:
Cascade Natural Beef Brand:
- 5-pound and 10-pound bags of ground beef. Each package bears the identifying case code "13-016G."
- 5-pound and 10-pound bags of chili grind. Each package bears the identifying case code "13-016C."
- 15-pound boxes of ground beef patties. Each package bears the identifying case code "13-016GP."
SP Provisions Brand:
- 5-pound and 10-pound bags of ground beef. Each package bears the identifying case code "01-136."
- 5-pound and 10-pound bags of chili grind. Each package bears the identifying case code "01-136C."
- 15-pound boxes of ground beef patties. Each package bears the identifying case code "01-136P."
Each identifying case code is preceded by the date code "040809" through "052809," signifying the production date in "month/date/year" format, i.e. April 8, 2009 through May 28, 2009. Additionally, each product bears the establishment number "EST. 2866" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
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.
When a bout of E. coli is serious, victims sometimes require kidney transplants. They may also have scarred intestines that cause lasting digestive difficulty. Even E. coli patients who supposedly recovered can experience long-term health problems later on, as it is estimated that 10 percent of E. coli sufferers develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, where their kidneys and other organs fail.
