The meat and poultry industries have learned that if you poison your customers enough times, they’ll eventually start losing trust in you—although, oddly, they won’t change their purchasing habits. That’s the takeaway from a study carried out by Meatingplace.com (snicker) and “its sister publication POULTRY” (ha ha WHERE’S CHRIS HANSON). However, no description of the study is provided other than that Zoomerang.com was used, so we’re not sure if the results are at all meaningful. We’re just glad the meat industry is starting to notice something’s wrong.
e coli
Meat Sold In Bulk To Retailers And Distributors Recalled For e. Coli
By 11.26.07
Meat processed by American Foods Group of Green Bay, WI has been recalled following an investigation by the Illinois Department of Health. The meat was sold in bulk quantities to retailers and distributors and may not be easily identifiable to consumers, says the USDA:
The products subject to recall were distributed for further processing and repackaging and will not bear the recalling firm’s establishment number on the package. As the use-by date for products subject to this recall may have expired, consumers can contact their retailers to ask if they received any of these products and if so, consumers are urged to look in their freezers for these products and return or discard them if found.
Macy's Contaminated With Giant Furry E. Coli
By 11.15.07
Here’s the perfect gift for your favorite little Consumerist reader! A giant stuffed e. coli bacterium.
E.Coli Meat Just Gets A "Cook-Only" Label Slapped On
By 11.14.07
It’s legal for meat companies to sell meat with food-poisoning bacterium E. coli on it, as long it’s labeled “cook-only.” The result, say anonymous USDA inspectors speaking with the Chicago Tribune, is higher levels of E. coli are tolerated in the plants.
Cargill Recalls 1 Million Pounds Of Tainted Beef
By 11.3.07 — Updated: 4.18.13
Agribusiness monster Cargill is recalling 1 million pounds of beef that may be contaminated with E. coli. The potentially tainted meat was butchered between October 8 and October 11 at the “Cargill Meat Solutions” slaughterhouse in Wyalusing, PA. According to Cargill, there have been no reports of illness. After the jump, the long list of recalled products.
USDA Recalls Totino's, Jeno's Delicious E. Coli Flavored Pizzas
By 11.2.07
Yesterday the USDA recalled several types of both Totino’s and Jeno’s meat pizzas because they are tainted with e. coli. E. coli bacteria is not destroyed by freezing, so you’ll want to avoid eating these pizzas. The USDA considers this a Class I recall, which is defined as “a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Walmart, Pathmark, Topps Meat For Selling E. Coli Tainted Beef
By 10.5.07
28 people in 8 states have fallen ill due to e. coli exposure from Topps frozen hamburgers and now a class action lawsuit has been filed against the meat processor and several grocery stores who sold the product. 10 people have been hospitalized. One has hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which causes kidney failure.
Meat Industry Showing Signs Of Larger Problems
By 10.2.07
This summer, almost 6 million pounds of beef were recalled due to E. coli contamination. Last week, almost 22 million pounds of frozen hamburger meat were recalled after reports surfaced of E. coli infections. It was the biggest meat recall in 10 years, and “the American Meat Institute (AMI) says it noticed a slight rise in positive E. coli tests by the government this summer,” says a USA Today article. In fact, 2007 is the first time in 3 years that the rate of positive USDA sample-tests have gone up. At the same time, the Chicago Tribune reports that in July, a congressman from Minnesota slipped a special measure into the 2007 farm bill that would reduce the need for federal inspections for small meat producers.
Hamburger Recalled For E. Coli After 6 Illnesses Reported In New York
By 9.26.07
6 people have fallen ill due to e. coli contaminated frozen hamburger, according to the Associated Press. Three of the illnesses required hospitalization.
Dole "Hearts Delight" Bagged Lettuce Recalled For E. Coli
By 9.18.07
Dole is recalling bagged lettuce tainted with e. coli today, so you’ll want to check your fridge lest you develop bloody diarrhea.
Lawsuits: Tyson Ground Beef Sold by Walmart Put Me In The Hospital
By 7.5.07
A woman has filed a lawsuit after ground beef made by Tyson and sold by Walmart put her in the hospital for 3 weeks, she says. From KOTV:
Melinda Pierce says she bought some Tyson hamburger meat at the Muskogee Wal-Mart on June 4th and made enchiladas with it two days later.
Fast Food Nation Movie Review: Read The Book
By 6.13.07
Catching up on our Netflix pile, we watched Fast Food Nation last night. This is our movie review: read the book.
Beef Recall Expanded To Eleven Western States
By 6.11.07
5.7 million pounds of beef distributed by United Food Group may be infected with E. coli. The beef bears sell-by dates from April 6-April 20; though the beef won’t be found on supermarket shelves, it might still be in your freezer.
The recalled products were shipped to stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. They were sold under the brand names Moran’s All Natural, Miller Meat Company, Stater Bros., Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop, Inter-American Products Inc. and Basha’s.
E. Coli Prompts Beef Recall in Eight States
By 5.13.07
PM Beef Holdings is recalling 117,500 pounds of beef that may be tainted with E. coli. The tainted beef has already landed three Minnesotans in the hospital, and now threatens residents in eight states.
“Because these products later became ground beef sold under many different retail brand names, consumers should check with their local retailer to determine whether they may have purchased any of the products subject to recall,” the USDA said.
The USDA is working overtime to figure out who received the tainted beef, which was prepared on March 27. The beef has already been traced to Minnesota, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. To thwart E. coli, heat your meat to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
FDA Spokesperson: Is Bagged Salad Safe To Eat? "No, I Don't Believe It Is."
By 4.12.07
When NPR asked the FDA “point man” on “all things e. coli” whether bagged salad was safe to eat he replied, “No, I don’t believe it is.” Good enough for us.
Recall: E. Coli in Mushrooms From BJ's Warehouse
By 2.22.07
BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. said Tuesday it was recalling packages of fresh mushrooms after it a routine inspection revealed the possible presence of the deadly bacteria E. coli.
Taco Bell e. Coli: It Was California Lettuce
By 1.15.07
One likely problem is the proximity of ranching and farming operations in parts of California. Cattle and other animals harbor the bacteria, which is shed in their feces.
1 in 3 Fast Food Customers Will Avoid Taco Bell
By 12.26.06
USA Today is reporting a poll claiming, “36% of Taco Bell’s best customers — those who eat there once a month or even daily — say that after the recent illnesses, they now eat at Taco Bell less often, or not at all.”
