ag-formation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2002

*Recall Notification Report* Beef Products (Ground Beef and Beef Trimmings)

WASHINGTON---The South Carolina Department of Agriculture fowards the following EXPANDED recall notification on behalf of the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service. The recall is for ground beef and beef trimmings. Consumers with concerns should call their local supermarketand inquire about the origin of their ground beef purchase or call 1-800-535-4555 or visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/recalls/rec_intr.htm for more information. Ground beef and all food should be properly prepared and served to ensure food safety.

*RECALL NOTIFICATION REPORT* USDA FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

***EXPANDED***

PRODUCTS RECALLED: Beef Products (Ground Beef and Beef Trimmings)

On July 18, 2002, the recall was expanded following a scientific and technical review of plant practices and company records by FSIS. As a result of the FSIS investigation it was revealed that the Recall 055-2002 needs to be expanded to include the products produced between selected dates from April 12, 2002 through July 11, 2002 because these products may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7.

PRODUCTION DATES/IDENTIFYING CODES:

The following ground beef products are subject to the expanded recall were produced on selected dates from April 12, 2002 through June 29, 2002. Each product bears on its label a pack date from "APR 12" through JUN 29."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck, 80/20 Coarse Grind 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42606."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 75/25, Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42511."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 73/27, Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42510."

* "BULK GROUND BEEF, 81/19, FINE." Each label bears the case code, "2209393."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs, Keep Frozen, Net Wt. 40 Lbs." Each label also bears, "42502."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19, Fine Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42499."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 93/07, Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42891."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Round Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42878."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Round, 85/15 Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42609."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck, 80/20 Fine Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42630."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 75/25 Fine Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42632."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 85/15 Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42409."

* "CERTIFIED, ANGUS BEEF, Ground Beef, 81/19 Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42242."

* "Hunt-Wesson, #IB171, 70/30 COARSE GROUND BEEF, FOR FURTHER PROCESSING." Each label also bears, "42301."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42162."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19 Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42141."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19, Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42142."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 85/15, Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42151."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 75/25, Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42122."

* "Con Agra Beef, Beef Trimmings Ground, 73/27, Use In Fully Cooked Only, Keep Frozen, Net Wt. 60 Lbs." Each label also bears, "42116."

* 16 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF ROUND."

* 16 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF, 73/27."

* 16 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF CHUCK."

* 16 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF, 80/20."

* 16 ounce packages of "LEAN GROUND BEEF, 93/7"

* 16 ounce packages of "Kroger, FRESH, GROUND CHUCK, 100% BEEF."

* 16 ounce packages of "Kroger, FRESH, GROUND BEEF, 100% BEEF."

* 16 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN."

* 60-pound boxes of "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 85/15 Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42152."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19, Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42841."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19 Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42843."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19 Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42845."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 81/19, Fine Grind, 12-5# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42846."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42861."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 36-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42862."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42863."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42867."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42868."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42869."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Round Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42871."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef, 85/15, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44117."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnsls Beef Trimmings 50/50, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44001."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnsls Beef Trimmings 65/35, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44002."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings 75/25, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44003."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings 85/15, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44007."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings 50/50 Keep Frozen Use in Fully Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears "44016."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings 65/35 Keep Frozen Use in Fully Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44017."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings 85/15 Keep Frozen Use in Fully Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44019."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings 80/20 Keep Frozen Use in Fully Cooked Only, 60 Lbs. Net Wt." Each label also bears, "44020."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Sirloin 90/10 Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42132."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42166."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Chuck Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, '42169."

* "CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF, Ground Beef Chuck Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42262."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef 93/07 Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42191."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef 93/07 Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42192."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Round Coarse Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42171."

* "Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Round Fine Grind 6-10# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42172."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42811."

* Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42813."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 16-3# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42814."

* Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 12-5# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42816."

* Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42817."

* Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 12-3# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42818."

* Con Agra Beef, 73/27, Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42819."

* Con Agra Beef, 75/25, Fine Grind, 8-5# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42825."

* Con Agra Beef, 75/25, Fine Grind, 12-5# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42826."

* Con Agra Beef, Ground Beef Sirloin Fine Grind, 24-1# Chubs." Each label also bears, "42831."

* 80 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF 75/25"

* 80 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF 73/27"

* 80 ounce packages of "Kroger FRESH GROUND BEEF QUALITY GUARANTEED 100% BEEF"

* 80 ounce packages "GROUND BEEF 80/20"

* 80 ounce packages of "Kroger FRESH GROUND BEEF QUALITY GUARANTEED 100% BEEF"

* 48 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF 73/27"

* 48 ounce "GROUND BEEF CHUCK"

* 48 ounce packages of "Kroger FRESH GROUND ROUND QUALITY GUARANTEED 100% BEEF"

* 48 ounce packages of "Kroger GROUND CHUCK QUALITY GUARANTEED 100% BEEF"

* 80 ounce packages of "Kroger GROUND CHUCK QUALITY GUARANTEED 100% BEEF"

* 48 ounce packages of "GROUND BEEF 80/20"

Also subject to the recall expansion are the following beef trim products produced on selected dates from April 12, 2002 through July 11, 2002. Each product bears on its label a pack date from "APR 12" through "JUL 11."

* "Con Agra Beef, Edible Beef Fat with Visible Lean and Edible Beef Fat, Ingredients: Beef Fat with Visible Lean, Beef Fat. For Further Processing, (Paper Combo)." Each label also bears, "43997."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings, 85/15, (Combo)." Each label bears, "43007."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings, 65/35, (Combo)." Each label also bears, "43002."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings, 50/50, (Combo)." Each label also bears, "43001."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Chuck Trimmings G/B, (Comb)." Each label also bears, "20490."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Chuck Trimmings G/B, (Combo)." Each label also bears, "30490."

* "Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Round Trimmings, (Combo)." Each label also bears, "30638."

* Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings, 65/35, (Combo)." Each label also bears, "43002."

* Con Agra Beef, Bnls Beef Trimmings, 50/50, (Combo)." Each label also bears, "43001."

The following products that were produced on May 31, 2002, and were recalled on June 30, 2002 prior to July 18, 2002, expansion. They were cases of ground beef products marked with the package code "Freeze or sell by 06 18 02," and each case contains six ten-pound chubs, as follows:

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef 75/25 Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42122";

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef Sirloin 90/10 Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42132";

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef 81/19 Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42141";

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42162";

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef Chuck Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42169";

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef Round Coarse Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42171";

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef Round Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42172"; and

* "CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF," "Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 6-10# Chubs" with the case code "42262."

The cases of ground beef that were initially recalled were marked with a package code "Freeze or sell by 06 18 02," and each case contained eight ten-pound chubs, as follows:

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef 81/19 Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs" with the case code "42410";

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef 81/19 Fine Grind, 8-10# Chubs" with the case code "42499"; and

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef 73/27 Coarse Grind, 8-10# Chubs" with the case code "42510."

The ground beef product that was initially recalled was marked with a package code "Freeze or Sell by 06 18 02" and was packaged in cases, with each one contained 12 five-pound chubs, as follows:

* "ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef 73/27 Fine Grind, 12-5# Chubs" with the case code "42816." Each retail chub contains the label "GROUND BEEF."

The ground beef product that was initially recalled was marked with a Julian date code of "151 02" on each case, and each case contained 36 one-pound chubs, as follows:

"ConAgra Beef," "Ground Beef Chuck Fine Grind, 36-1# Chubs" with the case code "42862." Each frozen retail chub contains the label "GROUND BEEF CHUCK."

The labels on all products being recalled bear the establishment number "EST. 969" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

PROBLEM/REASON FOR RECALL: The products may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7.

HOW/WHEN DISCOVERED: Traceback microbiological samples were collected by FSIS on June 24, 2002. They were reported positive for E. coli O157:H7 on June 29, 2002. On July 18, 2002, the recall was expanded following a scientific and technical review of plant practices and company records by FSIS. As a result of the FSIS investigation it was revealed that the Recall 055-2002 needs to be expanded to include the products produced between selected dates from April 12, 2002 through July 11, 2002, because these products may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7.

FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT:

00969 M

ConAgra Beef Company

800 N. 8TH Avenue

Greeley, CO 80631

CONSUMER CONTACT:

Jim Herlihy, VP of Communication and Consumer Affairs, 888-742-0467

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Herlihy, VP of Communication and Consumer Affairs, 970-506-8052

QUANTITY RECALLED:

Approximately 19,000,000 pounds (This includes the 354,200 pounds of the June 30, 2002, Recall)

DISTRIBUTION:

Nationwide

RECALL CLASSIFICATION: Class I

RECALL NOTIFICATION LEVEL: Consumer

PRESS RELEASE: Yes

FSIS FOLLOWUP ACTIVITIES: Effectiveness checks by the FSIS, District Enforcement Operations.

FSIS CONTACTS:

Compliance/Recall Coordinator: 202-418-8874

Recall Management: 202-690-6389

Media Inquiries: 202-720-9113

Congressional Inquiries: 202-720-3897

Consumer Inquiries: 1-800-535-4555

Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/recalls/rec_intr.htm

DATE OF RECALL MEETING: June 30, 2002, expanded on July 18, 2002

RECALL CASE NUMBER: 055-2002

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