Yourlawyer.com (Topps Ground Beef Recall News)

Topps Meat Company Bankruptcy Sale Leaves Little for Victims of E. Coli Tainted Beef

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Topps Meat Company, driven out of business after its E. coli tainted meat sickened dozens of people, was sold for $1.25 million last week.   But while the sale marks the end of Topps Meat Company, it does not mean the end of the legal issues surrounding the Topps Meat Company E. coli outbreak. According to an article filed by the Associated Press, the bankruptcy trustee involved in the Topps case could pursue insurance claims on behalf of the company’s unsecured creditors who will otherwise see almost nothing as a result of the bankruptcy. Those unsecured creditors include people who where sickened by E. coli tainted Topps Meat.   According to the AP article, some victims of the Topps ground beef E. coli outbreak have already chosen to pursue lawsuits on their own.

The Topps Meat Company was once a leading US frozen ground beef processor.   On September 25, 2007, Topps recalled more than 300,000 pounds of frozen ground beef after it was tied to 6 cases of E. coli in New York State. Dozens more cases of E. coli linked to tainted Topps ground beef were soon confirmed around the country. By September 29, Topps had recalled another 21.7 million pounds of meat. Before it was over, at least 40 people in the US and Canada had been sickened by the E. coli tainted Topps Meat.

A subsequent investigation by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that in the months prior to the recall, Topps was ignoring many standard safety procedures at its New Jersey plant. For example, Topps had quit testing its meat for bacterial contamination once a month, and was only doing so three times per year. What’s more, Topps did not require its domestic beef suppliers to test their meat, and the company often mixed tested and untested meat together. Topps also got a substantial amount of meat from foreign suppliers – including countries where E. coli is known to be a problem. The worst thing about the lax safety procedures at the Topps Meat Company plant in New Jersey is that they were occurring right under the noses of USDA meat inspectors. According to the agency, inspectors visited the plant on a daily basis and spent between one and two hours there each day. Yet, the company was never cited over safety issues.

The fallout from the Topps ground beef recall was too much for the 67-year old company, and by November it had shut its doors and declared bankruptcy. According to the AP, the Topps name and company equipment were sold for $800,000 to TMC Acquisition Co., whose principal is William Morris, an owner of Hickory Foods Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla. Hickory's brands include frozen Bubba Burgers. TMC will also pay up to 10 cents a pound for 2.2 million pounds of hamburger. MSDT Acquisition, an affiliate of sausage maker Premio Foods of Hawthorne, New York, bought the remainder of the Topps lease and its flash-freezing equipment for $250,000..

Most of the $1.25 million raised in the Topps Meat Company bankruptcy sale will go to RBS Citizens Bank of Philadelphia, which had a secured claim because it loaned Elizabeth-based Topps $14.5 million.   About 5,000 unsecured creditors – including those seeking damages as a result of the Topps ground beef E. coli outbreak – could split the $107,500 and eventually see more money through litigation by the trustee. The Topps bankruptcy trustee told the AP that a bout 40 creditors may get payments through claims to Topps' insurance carriers, while eight creditors have filed their own lawsuits. Some of those lawsuits are from the 40 people in eight states who were sickened after eating Topps beef.

Topps Meat Company, Maker of E. Coli Tainted Beef that Sickened Dozens, to be Purchased by Premio Foods

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

The Topps Meat Company, the bankrupt ground beef processor that recalled millions of pounds of E. coli tainted meat in September, might soon have a new owner. Premio Foods, of Hawthorne, N.J., is seeking to purchase Topps Meat via a federal bankruptcy proceeding in a deal that could close in early January. The 67-year-old Topps Meat Company was forced to seek Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection following an E. coli outbreak that sickened 100 people in the US and Canada that was blamed on the company’s frozen ground beef products.

Topps Meat Company, a leading US frozen ground beef processor, recalled over 330,000 pounds of frozen ground beef patties in late September following an E. coli outbreak in New York that sickened six people and was linked to one of its products. While investigating the Topps ground beef E. coli outbreak, health authorities discovered a box of Topps frozen ground beef patties in one of the victim’s freezers. Testing revealed the patties were infested with E. coli O157:H7. Days later, Topps recalled another 21 million pounds of beef. Before it was over, the Topps Ground Beef E. coli outbreak spread to 8 states and several Canadian provinces. Unable to absorb the costs of the Topps ground beef E. coli recall, the company closed its doors on October 5, and filed for bankruptcy in November. Its Elizabeth, New Jersey processing plant has been idle ever since.

The Topps case was one of the largest and most serious meat recalls this year involving E. coli beef contamination; federal and state health officials found at least three types of the O157:H7 strain in the plant. Following the first recall, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected Topps’ Elizabeth, New Jersey plant. Beef grinding operations were suspended after inspectors discovered inadequate bacterial contamination prevention controls. USDA staffers also found Topps had lax standards for testing of meat acquired from foreign suppliers and that Topps regularly mixed meat that had been tested for bacterial contamination and untested meats. Further investigation determined that the contamination source was likely Rancher’s Beef Ltd., a Topps supplier based in Alberta, Canada.

Currently, Topps Meat Company is owned by the Buffalo-based private equity firm Strategic Investments & Holdings, Documents filed with a federal bankruptcy court in New Jersey indicate Premio has offered $794,605 for the Topps trademarks, as well as its physical assets. The deal would include equipment and property of the Elizabeth, N.J.-based Topps, and more than 1.8 million pounds of potentially E. coli-contaminated meat. The proposed asset purchase agreement filed with the court indicates Premio will pay 10 cents per pound for some 1.3 million of packaged inventory, and five cents per pound for nearly 536,000 pounds of raw meat. Under federal law, Premio will be required to destroy all the leftover product that is still sitting in Topps warehouses.

Topps Ground Beef Recall Forces Company into Bankruptcy

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

The Topps ground beef recall has resulted in the 67-year-old meat processor's bankruptcy. Topps had shut it doors in October, just after recalling more than 21 million pounds of ground beef that ultimately sickened dozens of people across the country. Last week, Topps filed for federal bankruptcy protection, blaming the economic impact of the Topps ground beef recall for its decision.

Topps Meat Company, a leading US frozen ground beef processor, recalled over 330,000 pounds of frozen ground beef patties late September following an E. coli outbreak in New York that sickened six people and was linked to one of its products. While investigating the Topps ground beef E. coli outbreak, health authorities discovered a box of Topps frozen ground beef patties in one of the victim's freezers. Testing revealed the patties were infested with E. coli O157:H7. Days later, Topps recalled another 21 million pounds of beef.

E. coli 0157:H7-Escherichia coli 0157:H7-is one of hundreds of E. coli strains, the vast majority of which are harmless. Strain 0157:H7 is quite virulent, producing a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness and even death and is the leading cause of food and waterborne illness in the US. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates, there are over 70,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occurring in the US annually with most linked to undercooked or contaminated meat.

Within days of the first recall, 25 people in eight oherstates fell ill. By September 28, cases of E. coli poisoning had been reported nationwide with five victims requiring hospitalization. Ultimately, at least 40 people were sickened, which raised questions about the effectiveness of inspections. The agency was also scrutinized for a delay of several weeks in requesting the recall after tests showed Topps meat was linked to illness from E. coli. Federal investigators said the company failed to require adequate testing of raw beef purchased from domestic suppliers and it sometimes mixed tested and untested meat in its grinding machines.

The Topps case is one of the largest and most serious of 16 recalls this year involving E. coli beef contamination; federal and state health officials found at least three types of the O157:H7 strain in the plant. Following the first recall, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected Topps' Elizabeth, New Jersey plant. Beef grinding operations were suspended after inspectors discovered inadequate bacterial contamination prevention controls. By September month-end, Topps expanded its recall to include another 21 million pounds of frozen ground beef distributed to retail outlets and food service institutions nationwide. The contamination source was likely Rancher's Beef Ltd., a Topps supplier based in Alberta, Canada.

On October 5th, Topps shut its doors, laying off most of its employees. According to papers filed Wednesday in federal bankruptcy court in Newark, Topps cited the "severe economic impact of the recall" as the reason it was forced to cease operations and that its property in Elizabeth and elsewhere "poses or is alleged to pose a threat of imminent and identifiable harm to the public health or safety."

Topps listed assets of up to $100 million with liabilities of up to the same amount. Nearly 5,400 people were listed as creditors along with companies, including Tyson Foods. Strategic Investments and Holding, the investment firm in Buffalo that bought Topps in 2003, was also listed as a creditor, as were several high-level managers at Topps, including Anthony D'Urso, a vice president. The filing did not specify how much money each creditor was owed.

Topps Ground Beef Recall, E. Coli Outbreak Started with Canadian Beef

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The Topps ground beef E. coli outbreak originated with Canadian beef, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced recently. The revelation is sure to raise more questions about meat inspection in the US, as American meat processors are not required by the USDA to test certain types of meat supplied by foreign companies.

More than 21 million pounds of Topps ground beef was recalled in late September after it was linked to an E. coli outbreak that sickened people throughout the US and Canada. At least 40 people in the US became sick from the contaminated Topps ground beef, and the fallout from the E. coli outbreak and subsequent Topps ground beef recall caused the 67-year old meat processing company to go out business.

According to the USDA, tests of beef trim from Ranchers Beef, Ltd. of Balzac, Alberta, Canada showed that it was infected with the same strain of E. coli bacteria involved in the Topps outbreak. Ranchers Beef is now defunct, but it supplied beef trim to Topps Meat Company before going out of business on August 15. Ranchers Beef’s tainted meat has also been tied to 45 cases of E. coli poisoning in Canada.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, E. coli is responsible for sickening 73,000 people every year, and of those, 60 will die from the disease. Recalls of E. coli tainted meat have doubled this year, and outbreaks of the food borne illness are on the rise as well. E coli poisoning usually occurs within 3 to 9 days after a victim eats contaminated foods. The symptoms of E. coli include stomach pain and severe cramps. This is followed by diarrhea that is watery and bloody. While most people will recover completely in about a week, E. coli poisoning can be very dangerous for children, the elderly and anyone with a weak immune system.

The revelation that the Topps ground beef E. coli outbreak originated with a Canadian supplier only serves to highlight the inadequate safety measures at the meat processor’s Elizabeth, New Jersey plant in the months before the Topps ground beef recall. Federal inspectors have revealed that in the months prior to the recall, Topps was ignoring many standard safety procedures at its plant. For example, Topps got a substantial amount of meat from foreign suppliers. But shockingly, federal guidelines don’t require some types of imported meat to be tested for bacteria. Topps had also quit testing its meat for bacterial contamination once a month, and was only doing so three times per year. What’s more, Topps did not require its domestic beef suppliers to test their meat, and the company often mixed tested and untested meat together.

The most disturbing aspect of this whole saga is that these substandard practices at the Topps Meat Company were occurring right under the noses of USDA meat inspectors. According to the agency, inspectors visited the plant on a daily basis and spent between one and two hours there each day. Yet, the company was never cited over safety issues. The USDA’s lack of action at the Topps ground beef plant definitely made it more likely that E. coli outbreak related to Topps ground beef would occur sooner or later.

USDA E. Coli Testing of Meat to Increase Following Topps Ground Beef Recall

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

E. coli testing at meat processing plants should increase dramatically under new rules set to be implemented by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The changes were prompted after the USDA was criticized for its handling of the Topps Meat Company ground beef recall earlier this month.   The USDA hopes the changes will stem the rising tide of meat-related E. coli outbreaks and recalls, which have hit record numbers this year.

On September 25, the Topps Meat Company recalled more than 300,000 pounds of frozen ground beef after it was tied to 6 cases of E. coli in New York State.   Dozens more cases of E. coli linked to tainted Topps ground beef were soon confirmed around the country, and by September 29, Topps had recalled another 21.7 million pounds of meat.   Topps, a privately-held company controlled by Buffalo-based Strategic Investments & Holdings Inc., soon announced that it would be going out of business.

Yesterday, media outlets reported that in the months leading up to the recall, Topps was ignoring many standard safety procedures at its New Jersey plant. Topps had quit testing its meat for E. coli contamination once a month, and was only doing so three times per year.   Topps also did not require its domestic beef suppliers to test their meat for E. coli, and the company often mixed tested and untested meat together. This was allowed to occur even though USDA inspectors visited the Topps Meat Company plant on a daily basis.

So far this year, there have been 16 recalls of E. coli contaminated meat, up substantially from last year. For that reason, the USDA announced several new safety measurers aimed at improving the safety of the US meat supply. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service said that it has increased E. coli testing of meat by more than 75%, and is working on a new program that will subject meat processing plants that have had E. coli problems in the past to greater scrutiny. The USDA will also conduct more tests of meat used in ground beef, like beef trim, because the process of grinding beef can spread E. coli bacteria. Countries importing beef into the US will be required to conduct the same or equivalent E. coli tests on their meat products.

The USDA has also put meat processors on notice that they must make sure that they are effectively controlling E. coli bacteria during slaughter and processing. The USDA will be offering outreach and training for the smallest meat producers, and inspections will become more frequent at larger meat processing facilities.

In 2002, the USDA also pressured the meat industry to enact strict safeguards against E. coli, a deadly bacteria that sickens 73,000 people every year and causes 61 fatalities.   For several years, the new safety measures appeared to be working, as meat-related E. coli outbreaks and recalls declined until this year. Critics of the USDA have claimed the agency has been too lax in its enforcement of safety procedures, and has allowed the meat industry to ignore the guidelines it established five years ago.

Topps Meat Company Ignored Meat Safety Standards Months Before Recall of E. Coli Tainted Ground Beef

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

In the months before the Topps Meat Company ground beef recall, the meat processor had ignored critical safety measures to guard against E. coli contamination at its Elizabeth New Jersey plant. As a result, the Topps Meat Company’s lax attitude allowed millions of pounds of tainted beef to reach consumers across the country. Now the resulting E. coli outbreak and recall that put the company out of business is raising serious questions about the ability of the federal government to insure the safety of the US food supply.

In 2002, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) pressured the meat industry to enact strict safeguards against E. coli 0157 H7, a deadly strain of the bacteria that sickens 73,000 people every year and causes 61 fatalities.   For several years, the new safety measures appeared to be working, as meat-related E. coli outbreaks and recalls declined. But this year, the declining trend reversed. The Topps Meat Company ground beef recall was only the largest of 16 meat recalls this year that involved E. coli contaminated beef. While there could be many factors influencing the upturn in E. coli problems, it does appear that the meat industry is not always following the guidelines established by the USDA five years ago.

This was definitely the case with the Topps ground beef recall. Federal inspectors have revealed that in the months prior to the recall, Topps was ignoring many standard safety procedures at its New Jersey plant. For example, Topps had quit testing its meat for bacterial contamination once a month, and was only doing so three times per year.   What’s more, Topps did not require its domestic beef suppliers to test their meat, and the company often mixed tested and untested meat together. Topps also got a substantial amount of meat from foreign suppliers – including countries where E. coli is known to be a problem. But shockingly, federal guidelines don’t require some types of imported meat to be tested for bacteria.

The worst thing about the lax safety procedures at the Topps Meat Company plant in New Jersey is that they were occurring right under the noses of USDA meat inspectors. According to the agency, inspectors visited the plant on a daily basis and spent between one and two hours there each day. Yet, the company was never cited over safety issues. It wasn’t until E. coli tainted Topps ground beef had sickened dozens of people that the USDA took any action against the company. And even then, the USDA waited 18 days after E. coli was found in Topps ground beef before issuing a recall.

The USDA now says that the Topps Meat Company ground beef recall has caused it to re-examine its inspection standards. For instance, the USDA is now considering testing all meat imports for bacteria.   The agency has also directed its inspectors to conduct a nationwide survey of the steps other meat processors are taking to prevent E. coli contamination.   The USDA has also said it will be sending special teams to plants that have poor safety standards to “urge” them to take more adequate measures.

But critics of the USDA say that such a plan highlights one of its biggest problems – the USDA can only recommend that meat processors enact tougher safety measures.   It is that lack of enforcement power that allowed more than 21 million pounds of E. coli contaminated Topps Meat Company ground beef to sicken at least 40 people across the country. And unless something is done to give the USDA more teeth, there will likely be more meat-related E. coli outbreaks in the future.

Topps Ground Beef Recall Means the End of 67-Year-Old Company

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The Topps ground beef recall has claimed even more victims – the employees of the 67-year- old company.   Management of the Topps Meat Company announced yesterday that it would be closing its doors for good, unable to withstand the impact of what has become the third largest meat recall in US history.   More than 21 million pounds of Topps frozen ground beef has been recalled since September 25, and the tainted meat is blamed for an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 30 people in 8 states. It is a sad end for a company that was once one of the largest frozen meat processors in the US.

On September 25, Topps Meat Company recalled more than 300,000 pounds of frozen ground beef after it was tied to 6 cases of E. coli in New York State.   Dozens more cases of E. coli linked to tainted Topps ground beef were soon confirmed around the country, and by September 29, Topps had recalled another 21.7 million pounds of meat.   Topps, a privately-held company controlled by Buffalo-based Strategic Investments & Holdings Inc., operated out of a plant in Elizabeth, New Jersey.   In a statement announcing the business’ closure, Topps CEO Anthony D’Uro said that the company “cannot overcome the reality of a recall this large.”

According to the New York Times, about 87 people worked at the Topps plant in New Jersey.   They were only told about the closure yesterday, and reportedly ended their tenure at Topps with a barbecue that featured well-done Topps hamburgers. According to Topps, a few employees will stay on to assist federal investigators with the E. coli investigation.

No one at the company would comment on the specific reasons for Topps’ stunning announcement, but the New York Times reported that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had just taken severe measures against the company. The USDA had already suspended Topps’ meat grinding operations on September 26 after the agency found safety problems in that area of the factory.   But the company had been allowed to continuing processing other products like steaks.   On Thursday, however, the USDA served Topps with a “notice of intended enforcement,” a move just short of suspending the rest of the company’s meat production. Apparently, inspectors had found even more problems in the rest of the plant.

Topps Meat Company is not the only entity to be sullied by this E. coli debacle.   The USDA itself has come under fire for failing to recall tainted Topps ground beef in a timely manner.   The USDA had confirmation that a Florida girl suffering from E. coli had been sickened by a Topps frozen hamburger.   A sample of Topps meat taken from her parents’ freezer had tested positive for E. coli on September 7.   On September 14, the USDA received the results of more lab tests on September 14 that confirmed the earlier findings in the Florida case, yet the department did nothing until September 25.   The USDA has come under fire for this delay, and has promised to investigate the timing of the Topps ground beef recall. Even the department concedes that its actions were lacking, and has set about reviewing its recall policy.

As E. Coli Outbreak Grows, USDA to Probe Delay of Topps Ground Beef Recall

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

With the number of E. coli cases linked to the Topps ground beef recall growing everyday, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is facing criticism over the timing of its September 25 recall announcement. At a teleconference yesterday to explain an 18 day lag between lab tests that confirmed the presence of E. coli in some Topps meat and the announcement of the first recall, officials from the USDA conceded that the system for inspecting and recalling food needs to be improved.

Last month, the Topps Meat Company recalled nearly 22 million pounds of E. coli tainted meat after it was linked to an outbreak of E. coli poisoning in several states.   So far at least 30 people have become sick from the E. coli contaminated Topps ground beef, and 10 are hospitalized.   The USDA first ordered a recall of more than 300,000 pounds of Topps frozen ground beef on September 25.   That was followed by a much larger recall of 21.7 million pounds of meat just a few days later.   The second announcement made the Topps ground beef recall the third largest meat recall in US history.

But yesterday, several media outlets reported that the USDA had confirmation that a Florida girl had been sickened by E. coli bacteria found in a package of Topps meat as early as September 7.   During yesterday’s teleconference, Dr. Richard Raymond, Undersecretary of Food Safety for the USDA, said that the agency was following its normal protocol by waiting for further confirmation of the September 7 lab test results in Florida. However, he conceded that such confirmation was available on September 14, yet the USDA waited another 11 days before issuing the first Topps ground beef recall. Dr. Raymond said the USDA is not satisfied with the timing of the Topps meat recall, and promised that the USDA would take action to improve recall efficiency.   "Since Sept. 25, in addition to issuing the recall, we have begun reviewing data related to the recall and our protocols to determine how we can improve in how we conduct them in future," Dr. Raymond said.

Dr. Raymond also said that he was concerned that E. coli contamination of the US meat supply appeared to be on the rise.   In the past few years, most E. coli outbreaks have been traced to fresh produce like spinach and lettuce.   While E. coli contaminated meat had been a more serious problem a decade ago, meat processors had initiated safety measures that had significantly reduced the number of incidents of E. coli contaminated meat.   But this year, the number of E. coli outbreaks tied to meat has risen sharply, as has the number of meat recalls.

Dr. Raymond said that the USDA could not explain the sudden surge in E. coli outbreaks tied to tainted meat. But he said that the USDA would be stepping up inspections and meat sampling in order to head off future E. coli outbreaks.

Topps Meat Recall Delayed for Weeks by USDA, Despite Test that Confirmed E. Coli Contamination in Frozen Hamburgers

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Questions have arisen regarding the timing of the Topps Meat Company frozen ground beef recall. According to published reports, tests confirmed the presence of E. coli bacteria in a package of Topps frozen hamburgers as early as September 7.   Yet, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) did not issue a recall order for Topps ground beef until September 25. Now, the USDA faces criticism over its slow response to the Topps E. coli outbreak, and the situation will likely do little to ease fears that the food safety system in the United States is badly broken.

Despite the fact that it is responsible for overseeing the safety of the US meat supply, the USDA was not the first governmental agency to alert consumers to the danger posed by E. coli contaminated Topps ground beef.   Rather, it was the New York Department of Health that first published a safety alert on September 25 regarding Topps frozen meat.   New York officials had been investigating 6 cases of E. coli poisoning in that state, and had confirmed the presence of E. coli in a package of Topps frozen hamburgers a day before it issued its alert.   While the USDA did issue the Topps Meat Company recall a few hours later, it had tests that confirmed E. coli in some Topps meat weeks earlier.

The first case of E. coli poisoning linked to Topps ground beef was reported on July 5.   At that time the USDA was unable to trace that illness to a definitive source. But by September 7, state investigators in Florida had linked a girl’s E. coli poisoning to a package of frozen patties found in her family’s freezer.   Florida health officials forwarded that information to the USDA. But one case of E. coli poisoning tied to Topps meat was apparently not enough evidence for the USDA to issue a recall notice.

The USDA finally did recall Topps meat on September 25, following a meeting of its recall committee.   At that time, more than 300,000 pounds of Topps frozen beef products were recalled. But the USDA recall notice mentioned nothing about the Florida E. coli incident.   Rather, the USDA said that three cases in New York State tied to the frozen ground beef had sparked the recall

Despite the September 25 announcement, the recall wasn’t over yet. A few days later, Topps recalled another 21.7 million pounds of tainted meat – making the Topps recall the third largest meat recall in US history. The recall was expanded after USDA inspectors checking on the Topps Meat Company plant in New Jersey discovered safety violations. Though it won’t say what those violations were, the USDA did order Topps to suspend meat grinding operations at the facility until the company formulates a plan of corrective action. What is especially alarming about the safety violations found at the Topps Meat Company plant is that a USDA inspector had been present at the factory prior to the recall.

Since the Topps frozen ground beef recall was announced, health officials in 8 states have linked 28 E. coli cases to the tainted meat.   The latest victim reported becoming ill on September 11. Now some are asking if any victims of this E. coli outbreak could have been spared if the USDA had warned consumers about the dangers posed by Topps Meat Company hamburger patties when they were first linked to E. coli in Florida.

Topps Meat Company E. Coli Recall Largest in a Decade

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

The Topps frozen ground beef recall has sparked concerns that E. coli-tainted meat has once again become a major threat to US consumers. E. coli bacteria had been a regular source of frustration for US meat processors until the late 1990s, when the industry instituted reforms to guard against bacterial contamination.   But the Topps recall, along with several other recalls and E. coli outbreaks tied to contaminated meat this year have health officials worried that the food borne bacteria is once again on the rise.

Last week, Topps recalled more than 21 million pounds of ground beef after the meat was linked to an outbreak of E. coli in New York State that sickened at least 6 people.   A package of Topps frozen beef patties found in the freezer of one victim tested positive for E. coli contamination.   The ground beef was then implicated in cases of E. coli poisoning in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Three cases have been directly tied to tainted Topps ground beef, while 24 others are still being investigated.

The Topps Meat Company frozen ground beef recall was the largest meat recall in a decade.   The last such massive recall occurred in 1997, when Hudson Foods recalled 25 million pounds of ground beef.   Following several meat-related E. coli outbreaks in the 1990s, the industry instituted new safety policies that greatly reduced bacterial contamination in meat products.

But something is happening this year that has both health and meat industry officials concerned. According to the American Meat Institute (AMI), positive tests for E. coli contaminated meat are up significantly over the past three years. The Topps meat recall was one of only several E. coli-related recalls initiated this year. In August, Interstate Meats of Oregon issued a recall for more than 41,000 pounds of ground beef that was linked to an outbreak of E. coli poisoning in the Pacific Northwest. In June, United Food Group also recalled 5 million pounds of meat. That recall was followed by another that involved 40,000 pounds of E. coli-tainted beef products produced by Tyson Fresh Meat, Inc.

While no one can account for the recent spike in E. coli contaminated meat, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent inspection of the Topps Meat Company plant in New Jersey may have yielded some answers in that case. Beef grinding operations there were suspended after the USDA inspectors found that the company had inadequate controls to prevent bacterial contamination.   Amazingly, The USDA also said that Topps will not face any fines for the poor conditions at its plant.   The company will only have to submit a plan of corrective action before the factory responsible for making so many sick people is up and running again.

Topps Ground Beef Recall E Coli Lawsuit Lawyers Food Poisoning Attorneys

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700

Topps Ground Beef Recall

On September 25, 2007, the Topps Meat Company, one of the leading processors of frozen ground beef in the US, recalled over 300,000 pounds of frozen ground beef patties after one of the company’s products was implicated in an outbreak of E. coli poison in New York State that sickened six people.   While investigating the New York outbreak, health authorities had discovered a box of Topps frozen ground beef patties in a freezer belonging to one of the victims.   Further testing revealed that the patties were infested with E. coli O157:H7, an extremely virulent strain of food borne bacteria.

The initial Topps frozen meat recall involved 331,582 pounds of frozen beef products.   It included 10-pound boxes of Butcher’s Best 100 Percent All Beef Patties; 10-pound boxes of Kohler Foods burgers; 10-pound boxes of Sand Castle Fine Meat; two-pound boxes of Topps 100 Percent Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers; and three pound boxes of Topps 100-percent Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers. All of the affected beef patties carried the number “EST 9748” inside the USDA inspection mark and have “Sell By” dates of either June 22, 2008 or July 23, 2008.

Within a few days of the initial recall, a total of 25 people in 8 states had reportedly become ill from the Topps Meat Company E. coli-tainted ground beef.   By September 28, cases of E. coli poisoning had been reported in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Five of those victims required hospitalization.

Topps Ground Beef Recall Expanded
Following the first recall, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) quickly began an inspection of the Topps Meat Company processing facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Beef grinding operations were suspended after the USDA inspectors found that the company had inadequate controls to prevent bacterial contamination.

On September 29, 2007, the Topps Meat Company expanded the frozen ground beef recall to include another 21 million pounds of frozen ground beef distributed to retail outlets and food service institutions throughout the US. The second phase of the recall was initiated because of the findings of the USDA inspectors. The expanded Topps recall included frozen ground beef products distributed to retail outlets and food service institutions nationwide. Each recalled package was stamped with the establishment number "Est 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection and "sell-by" dates between Sept. 25, 2007, and Sept. 25, 2008. Label names included Butcher's Best, Kohler Foods, Mike's, Pathmark, Rastelli's, Roma-Topps, Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet Beef Burgers, Sand Castle, Shop Rite, Topps and West Side. Consumers were urged to check their freezers for the recalled ground beef, and return it to the store where it was purchased.

E. Coli Food Poisoning
E. coli bacteria occur naturally in the intestinal tracks of most mammals, including humans. However, E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially lethal strain of the bacteria that is found in the intestines of cows, goats and other animals. Sometimes, during the slaughtering process, E. coli O157:H7 can contaminate other parts of the animal. E. coli poisoning is generally associated with consuming undercooked meat; however in recent years, cases of E. coli poisoning have been associated with fresh spinach and other vegetables, as well as tainted meat.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, E. coli O157:H7 sickens an average of 73,000 people each year and kills 61 of them.   Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include bloody diarrhea, cramping, fatigue and dehydration.   Though most victims of E. coli poisoning will recover within 7-10 days, the illness can be very dangerous for children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In extreme cases, E. coli poisoning can lead to kidney failure and even death.   People with serious cases of E. coli poisoning often require dialysis treatments and blood transfusions, and can spend weeks or months in hospital intensive care units.

Legal Help for Topps Ground Beef E Coli Victims
If you or a loved one became infected with E. coli after eating tainted Topps Meat Company frozen ground beef, you may have valuable legal rights, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified attorney.