Meat Recall Linked to E. coli Includes S.C. stores

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently found E. coli in packages of ground beef processed by National Beef Packaging Company of Dodge City, Kan., and sold mainly in the Southeast through Kroger, Winn-Dixie and Publix grocery stores.

Management at the Publix on East Butler Road in Mauldin said the necessary precuations have been taken and that any affected products have been removed from shelves. Publix released a statement regarding the recall. It has been posted at the bottom of the article.

So far no illnesses have been reported from the contamination, but E. coli can lead to bloody diarrhea and other health problems and can even be deadly.

Read more about the recall here and here.

A full list of the affected products sold through Publix stores is available here.

The USDA statement about the recall is available here.

Statement from Publix:

Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for assorted varieties of products that contain ground chuck because it may be adulterated with E. coli O157:H7.  This is an expansion of National Beef Packing Company’s voluntary recall of ground beef product produced at its Dodge City, Kansas production facility.  The problem was discovered as a result of routine microbial testing conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture at a state-inspected facility that had purchased these products for further processing. A traceback investigation revealed that the slaughter facility, National Beef Packing Co. products were the sole source for the positive product sample.

Consumption of products containing E. coli O157:H7 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.  Publix is recalling the following random weight products produced at Publix retail meat departments with sell-by-dates between July 25 and August 12, 2011:

Item  | GTIN / UPC          | Product Description

93802 | 002-93802-00000 | Seasoned Beef Meatballs

96643 | 002-96643-00000 | Meat Loaf (Oven Ready)

96042 | 002-96042-00000 | Ground Chuck Patties

96039 | 002-96039-00000 | Ground Chuck

96640 | 002-96640-00000 | Stuffed Peppers

93801 | 002-93801-00000 | Seasoned Salisbury Steak

69282 | 002-69282-00000 | Montreal Seasoned Chuck Patties

72426 | 002-72426-00000 | Mesquite Seasoned Chuck Patties

75526 | 002-75526-00000 | Badia Seasoned Chuck Patties

77699 | 002-77699-00000 | Steakhouse Ground Chuck Patties

98002 | 002-98002-00000 | Jalapeno Burger

98003 | 002-98003-00000 | Bacon & Cheddar Burger

97376 | 002-97376-00000 | A/B Ground Chuck

98000 | 002-98000-00000 | Blue Cheese Burger

98153 | 002-98153-00000 | SC Bacon Cheddar Burger

69224 | 002-69224-00000 | SC Seasoned Beef Meatball

98150 | 002-98150-00000 | SC Blue Cheese Burger

69160 | 002-69160-00000 | SC Meat Loaf (Oven Ready)

16683 | 002-16683-00000 | SC Stuffed Peppers

16682 | 002-16682-00000 | SC Pork, Beef, Ham Meatball

98001 | 002-98001-00000 | Horseradish Cheddar Burger

69535 | 002-69535-00000 | SC Montreal Seasoned Chuck Patties

98151 | 002-98151-00000 | SC Horseradish Burger

98152 | 002-98152-00000 | SC Jalapeno Burger

99950 | 002-99950-00000 | Ground Chuck Slider Patties

96043 | 002-96043-00000 | Ground Chuck for Chili

96037 | 002-96037-00000 | Beef and Pork for Meatloaf

These products contain ground chuck  and were sold in Publix grocery stores in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.