Consumerist: e.coli

More Beef Recalled For E. Coli

Ben Popken — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:59:21 EDT

After Nebraska Beef, Ltd., recalled 531,707 pounds of beef for a possible E.coli contamination, Kroger is recalling beef from its stores and from stores selling beef under its label. The recall includes nearly all kinds and weights of ground beef with Kroger labels sold between 5/21 and 6/08. The sell-by date on them will fall between 5/21 and 6/05. Not included are ground beef in sealed tubes in 1,3, or 5lb sizes, or Frozen Beef Patties or Ground Beef Patties found in the frozen food aisle. Other caveats apply and there may be more updates, check the Kroger Recall page for the latest information. E.coli can cause food poisoning or even death. If you have any of this meat, you can either throw it away or return it to Kroger for a full refund.

Nebraska Firm Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination [USDA]
Ground Beef Recall [Kroger] (Thanks to Kimberley!)
E. Coli Illnesses Prompt Beef Recall [NYT]
(Photo: Getty)

Video Clip: More Coverage Of The Great Frozen Pizza Recall Of 2007

Meg Marco — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:17:13 EDT

Oh no! There are holes in the freezer section of our nation's grocery stores! Where did all the Totino's and Jeno's pizzas go?

How will we survive? On Tombstone alone? The horror!

[ABC News]

USDA Says Defunct Canadian Meatpacker Was Source Of Recent E.coli Beef Contaminations

Chris Walters — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:14:37 EDT

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service has used "DNA fingerprints" to trace the source of recent U.S. outbreaks of contaminated beef back to one shoddy supplier in Alberta, Canada. The company most likely responsible is Rancher's Beef, Ltd, which went out of business on August 15th, but not before helping sink Topps and contributing to nearly 100 illnesses in the U.S. and Canada.

Canada seems have reached a similar conclusion, although, being Canadian, they announced it in a more polite and understated way. (Those stupid Canadians!)

Some 45 cases of illness caused by E. coli were reported in five Canadian provinces from July to September, including one death, said the CFIA in a statement. It said genetic testing found "the same unique E. coli pattern" in beef from an unnamed meat facility in Alberta that is "currently not operating."

"Canadian beef likely cause of U.S. E. coli cases: USDA"

Blue Ribbons Meats in Florida is recalling ...

Chris Walters — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:11:19 EDT

Blue Ribbons Meats in Florida is recalling over 8,000 pounds of "seasoned beef and meatloaf" frozen patties due to suspected E.coli contamination, although no illnesses have been reported yet. The patties were shipped to a Florida correctional institution and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is the fifth E.coli-related recall this month. [Reuters]

A Bunch Of Groups Compromise On State Meat Inspections

Chris Walters — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:55:11 EDT

From the "boring but important" category of meat-related news, the Consumer Federation of America has joined with other advocacy groups as well as union and labor groups, under the assistance of men and women in Congress, to work out a compromise in response to July's ill-conceived attempt by Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson to do away with the federal inspections requirement for interstate meat sales. The new plan augments Peterson's measure in a way that ensures state-inspection procedures meet or exceed federal ones.

The original measure, snuck into the farm bill this past summer for largely pork barrel reasons, reduced federal regulation of small meat companies without specifically laying out a protocol that would guarantee federal inspection levels. And yeah, we know that federal inspection levels aren't exactly anything to be proud of, but they're better than nothing. Thankfully, other more responsible politicians have stepped up to develop a plan that would guarantee meat from small companies will still be inspected at the same level, whether by a state or federal agency, if they want to ship across state lines.

We're glad to see that this modified plan is being suggested that grants more independence to states while also providing a baseline of regulatory guidelines—it would be nice if the Consumerist didn't have to spend all of 2008 reporting state-by-state E. coli outbreaks.

"CFA, Consumer Groups Join Labor, Farm Groups and State Departments of Agriculture to Assure All Meat and Poultry Shipped Across State Lines Will Remain Subject to Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Laws, Regulations and Policies" [Consumer Federation of America] (pdf file)

RELATED
"Bill would reduce meat inspections" [Chicago Tribune]
(Photo: Getty)

USDA Food Inspector Calls Job "Just A Joke"

Meg Marco — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:21:06 EDT

An article in the Chicago Tribune takes yet another look at our broken food safety system, declaring that a USDA Food Inspector's job is now less about inspecting meat and more about inspecting paperwork.

After the Jack in the Box case, the USDA required each meat plant to adopt a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan. The plans let companies design their own food safety measures, usually around the need to process beef quickly.
"HACCP is an internationally recognized, prevention-based food safety program," Eamich said. "Inspection personnel have full authority to take immediate action to prevent the entry of adulterated products into commerce."

The hope was that meatpacking plants would adopt better practices. But inspectors today say their jobs have been reduced to monitoring a company's hazard analysis plan, instead of enforcing USDA's own inspection regulations.

"They [meatpacking companies] write their own plan," said one inspector, who asked to remain anonymous. "They write everything for themselves. We're 'monitoring' that now. It's just a joke. We mostly check paper now. You can put anything you want on paper."

That's comforting.

Food inspectors overwhelmed [Chicago Tribune]
(Photo:Michael Berch)

Doctor To U.S.: "We Need To Eat More Feces"

Chris Walters — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:22:56 EDT

Americans should have more poop in their diets, writes a doctor at Slate. Like superbugs and anti-bacterial products, we've become too successful at cleansing our food supply of all manner of contaminants—so that kids, for example, "have zero experience with routine gut infections, and when they encounter one that has slipped past our pipes and filters, the result can be catastrophic."

A secondary problem is that the current trend toward a more nutritious, "natural" food supply, combined with modern distribution networks, means one bad batch of spinach or frozen patties can end up on tables all over the country.

Why is this public-health problem so difficult to solve? This is America, after all, replete with wondrously harsh chemicals that can kill anything. Why can't we scrub away the bacteria our guts don't get along with?

Maybe we are taking the wrong approach. Rather than trying to make our food and water ever cleaner, we should focus instead on making sure it's dirty enough to assure our good health.

Rather than frantically throwing money at new ways to eradicate the pathogens that reside in shit, we should fund the boring scientists who focus on untangling the intricacies of the gut's immune system. Labs, answer this: How much shit can we safely eat and, as importantly, how much must we eat to remain healthy?

Oh, and good morning.

"Eat Crap" [Slate]
(Photo: makelessnoise)

E.Coli Kills Topps Meat Company

Chris Walters — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:51:54 EDT

Seventeen days after Topps launched the second largest meat recall in U.S. history, the 67-year-old company announced that it's going out of business. Topp's COO told American Agriculturist:

"In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large... We want to thank our loyal employees and customers who have supported us throughout the 67 years in which Topps Meat has been in business," D'Urso said. "Topps has always prided itself on providing the utmost quality and safety and never had a recall in our history until now. This has been a shocking and sobering experience for everyone."

According to the New York Times, Topps was "bought in 2003 by Strategic Investment and Holdings, an investment firm in Buffalo." Reports of sickness from the tainted meat have come from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and New York.

"Meat Recall Forces Topps Out of Business" [American Agriculturist]
(Photo: Getty)

Kroger Recalls Store Brand Potato Salad For E. Coli

Meg Marco — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:33:20 EDT

Kroger has announced the recall of their store brand "mustard" and "southern-style" potato salad because it may contain dangerous e. coli bacteria. Oh no!

What if you've eaten it?

Most people become ill from e. coli after about 4 days. The main symptom of e. coli is bloody diarrhea accompanied by abdominal cramps. For more information about the symptoms and effects of e. coli, check out this Q&A from the CDC.

The potato salad in question has a sell by date of Sep. 5. If you have questions for Kroger, you should feel free to give them a call at 866-221-4141.

Mmm, delicious e. coli!

Kroger recalls some potato salad on E. coli concerns [MarketWatch]
(Photo:axinar)

Year-Old Frozen Hamburger Recalled Due To E. Coli

Meg Marco — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:21:33 EDT

Yes, even freezing meat for 1 year will not dampen the power of e. coli. From the LA Times:

The meat was produced by Richwood Meat Co. on April 28, 2006, dated either "4-28-06" or "118-6," for the 118th day of the year, said Mike Wood, the company's president. Although the product was manufactured a year ago, the patties still may be present in freezers at home or in stores, officials said.
The products were distributed to institutional food services, food distributors, discount grocers and retail outlets such as WinCo and Vons, officials said. The recalled meat also was shipped to Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.... The recalled products carry the brand names Fireriver, Ritz Food Service, Chef's Pride, Blackwood Farms, California Pacific Associates, C&C Distributing, Golbon and Richwood.

Several kids picked up the contaminated meat at a Little League field in St. Helena, Calif and became ill with e. coli poisoning.

You know what this means. If your team has been storing burgers since last season, toss them. According to the USDA, frozen uncooked hamburger should only be stored 3 to 4 months in the freezer before it starts to taste awful anyway. —MEGHANN MARCO

Freezing and Food Safety [USDA]
Year-old meat recalled after E. coli cases [LA Times]
(Photo:Stuart Spivack)

Onion Farm Sues Taco Bell For Besmirching The Good Name Of Their Onions

Meg Marco — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:08:56 EDT

Taco Bell's former green onion supplier is suing Taco Bell for libel after the taco giant incorrectly linked green onions to the e. coli scare that sickened more than 70 people last year.

From the LA TImes:

Boskovich Farms Inc., the Oxnard green onion grower linked and then cleared in Taco Bell's E. coli outbreak in December, is firing back at the fast-food chain.
The grower contended in a lawsuit last week that the Irvine-based chain's actions libeled the farming concern and destroyed much of its business.

Taco Bell continued to link its onions to the outbreak that sickened more than 70 restaurant patrons in the Northeast in December even after it knew the produce was not contaminated, the lawsuit said.
...
The false connection between the farm and Taco Bell's E. coli problem has cost Boskovich "millions of dollars of business," said attorney Thomas Girardi, but he declined to state a specific dollar amount. "We had a whole crop of green onions that we couldn't even give away. It was just plowed under."

He added, "Taco Bell engaged in an irresponsible and intentional crusade to save its own brand at the expense of an innocent supplier."

Even though lettuce was the actual source of the e. coli contamination, Taco Bell removed green onions from its menu and stated that it has no plans to sell green onions again. Lettuce continues to be a part of approximately 70% of Taco Bell's menu items. The farm has no plans to replant green onions because of falling sales. —MEGHANN MARCO

Farm claims libel in E. coli scare [LA Times]
(Photo: Morton Fox)

Let the Taco Bell Lawsuits Begin

Meg Marco — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:39:10 EST

From the New York Post:

A 16-year-old boy says he suffered "severe and permanent personal injuries" after eating food from a Long Island Taco Bell.
In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, James Robinson, of Rockville Centre, says he "experienced great pain and suffering" and was hospitalized with E. coli poisoning after his mother picked him up some dinner at a now-shuttered Taco Bell in Hempstead.

James was one of the first to get sick, and initially the doctors didn't know what was wrong with him or how to treat it. The lawsuit names Taco Bell and the provider of the lettuce, Ready Pac. According to the Post: "A spokesman for Taco Bell said the company doesn't comment on pending litigation but is dedicated to making sure their food is safe." —MEGHANN MARCO

L.I. Teen: Bell Made Me Taco Ill [NYP]

PREVIOUSLY: Super Exciting News: Governor of Pennsylvania Eats At A Taco Bell

1 in 3 Fast Food Customers Will Avoid Taco Bell

No E.Coli in Green Onions, Make Up Your Mind.

Meg Marco — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:35:26 EST

According to the AP, "McLane Foodservice Inc., the distributor to the Taco Bell restaurants linked with an outbreak of E. coli, said Monday a site investigation by a New Jersey health agency found no evidence of improper storage or handling practices."

"McLane said the investigation found no problems with the site's food safety operations and that 15 product samples taken from McLane have preliminarily tested negative to E. coli."

Oh well, back to the drawing board. Does this mean we get our damn onions back? Not that there are any Taco Bells in NYC for us to eat at anyway. We're starting to forget what Taco Bell tastes like. We remember liking Fire Sauce.—MEGHANN MARCO

Taco Bell Distributor Passes Inspection [MSN Money]