California firm expands ground-meat recall

Sunday, February 14, 2010


CALIFORNIA

Firm expands recall of ground meat


A Southern California meatpacking firm has significantly expanded its recall of ground beef and veal that might be contaminated with E. coli.

The recall includes approximately 4.9 million additional pounds of products by Huntington Meat Packing under the Huntington, Imperial Meat and El Rancho brands. The original recall, announced Jan. 18, was for 864,000 pounds of meat.

E. coli is a potentially deadly germ that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in severe cases, kidney failure. The germ can be killed by cooking fresh and frozen meat products to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

There have been no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of the products, the food safety agency said.

The affected beef and veal was sold in 10-, 20- and 50-pound boxes to distribution centers, restaurants and hotels in California between Jan 4. and Jan. 22. Each box bears the establishment number "EST. 17967" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The original recall was expanded based on evidence collected in an ongoing criminal investigation. Inspectors found the products were prepared in a manner that did not follow rules to prevent food safety hazards, officials said.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/13/AR2010021303561.html