Kansas company recalls ground beef products due to possible E. coli contamination

June 19, 2013

The items that Liberal, Kansas-based National Beef Packing Company is recalling include:

  10-pound packages of National Beef 80/20 Coarse Ground Chuck, package code 0481. 
10-pound packages of National Beef 81/19 Coarse Ground Beef, package code 0421. 
10-pound packages of National Beef 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck, package code 0484.

All of the products have a “USE BY/SELL BY DATE” of June 14, 2013, and bear the establishment number “EST. 208A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products were produced on May 25 and shipped to various institutions and retail establishments in Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, Mississippi, Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Arizona.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS monitoring, which confirmed a positive result for E.coli O157:H7. An investigation determined the firm was the sole supplier of the source materials used to produce the positive product.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

 FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps within two to eight days (three to four days, on average) of exposure to the organism.

While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called HUS. This condition can occur among persons of any age, but is most common in children under 5 years old and older adults.

Symptoms of HUS may include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue and irritability, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, decreased urination and swelling. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

For questions about the recall and the company's return and reimbursement policy, call (877) 857-4143.

—From USDA news release

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