ag-formation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2002

*RECALL NOTIFICATION REPORT* U.S.D.A. FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE *EXPANDED*

COLUMBIA---The South Carolina Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service issues the following expanded recall.

On September 27, 2002, an investigation by FSIS, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health, connected the recalled products with cases of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Minnesota. On October 2, 2002, a FSIS investigation at the establishment determined that additional products produced on the same production dates are implicated. The total amount of beef recalled is approximately 2.8 million pounds which includes the original amount. The products listed have been distributed to retail markets and institutional foodservice customers nationwide who ha ve been notified verbally and who are being notified again in writing. All retail markets and instititutional foodservice customers in South Carolina should check their freezers to see if they have any of the products listed below. For more information about the recall, call the Emmpak Consumer Hotline toll free, 877-817-7622 or Mark Klein, Director of Communications, Emmpak, 414-978-6666.

PRODUCTS RECALLED:

The recall is expanded to include the following products:

* 20 pound boxes of "SYSCO, CLASSIC, GROUND BEEF-BULK 81/19, 7222227."

* 40 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, FRESH BULK GROUND BEEF, 4/10 FINE, 990."

* 20 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, FRESH BULK GROUND BEEF, 2/10 FINE, 993."

* 20 pound boxes of "GROUND BEEF BULK, 4/5, 7222185."

* 20 pound boxes of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, 4/5, 2513778."

* 20 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, FRESH BULK GROUND BEEF, 4/5, FINE, 986."

* 80 pound boxes of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, 8/10, 2209393."

* 20 pound boxes of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2/10, 2008217."

* 20 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, BULK GROUND BEEF, 80/20, 4/5, FINE, 22038."

* 20 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, BULK GROUND BEEF, 85/15, 4/5, FINE, 22350."

* 10 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, BULK PURE BEEF, 2/5, FINE, 3911."

* 20 pound boxes of "GROUND BEEF BULK, 4/5, 7222243."

* 20 pound boxes of "GROUND BEEF BULK, 2/10, 2473742, 2/10."

* 10 pound boxes of "GROUND BEEF BULK, 2/5, 1120245."

* 20 pound boxes of "GROUND BEEF BULK, 2/10, 7223761."

* 60 pound boxes of "K&W cafeteria, USDA CHOICE, BULK GROUND CHUCK BEEF MIX, SEASONING ADDED, 6/10, 220."

* 20 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, BEEF PATTY MIX, 2/10, FINE, 184."

* 20 pound boxes of "BEEF PATTY MIX, 2/10, 7224306."

* 20 pound boxes of "GROUND CHUCK BULK, 4/5, 1003508, 2890."

* 40 pound boxes of "Wis-Pak Foods, FRESH BULK GROUND BEEF, 8/5, FINE, 999."

Also included in the recall expansion are various sized cases containing 5-to10 pound chubs of the following products:

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS 96/04."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS 85/15."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF CHUCK, ANGUS, 83/17."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND, 5 LB. CHUBS, 80/20."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 93/07."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, SIRLOIN FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 91/09."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF ROUND, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 85/15."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 81/19."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 75/25."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF ROUND, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 85/15."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF CHUCK, 10 LB. CHUBS, 86/14."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND 5 LB. CHUBS, 73/27."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF CHUCK FINE GROUND, 5 LB. CHUBS, 80/20."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND 10 LB. CHUBS, 81/19."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 80/20."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF CHUCK, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 85/15."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF ROUND, FINE GRIND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 95/05."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 92/08."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 80/20."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF RIBEYE, 10 LB. CHUBS, 93/07."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF SIRLOIN, FINE GROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS, 90/10."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, BEEF FINE GROUND 10 LB. CHUBS, 93/07."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN, 10 LB. CHUBS 95/05."

* "Peck, MEAT PACKING, PECK CERTIFIED, GROUND BEEF ROUND, 10 LB. CHUBS 95/05."

The following products subject to the original recall were distributed to retail stores in 1 to 5-pound packages:

* "READY TO GRILL, GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES, THICK 1/3 LB PATTIES." The following label is also applied to the package: "GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES, CONTAINS 20% FAT."

* "GROUND CHUCK, 100% BEEF, CONTAINS 20% FAT." The following label is also applied to the package: "GROUND CHUCK BEEF, CONTAINS 20% FAT."

* "LEAN GROUND BEEF, 100% BEEF, 92% LEAN, 8% FAT." The following label is also applied to the package: "GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 8% FAT."

* "GROUND BEEF, 100% BEEF, CONTAINS 27% FAT." The following label is also applied to the package: "GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 27% FAT."

* "GROUND ROUND, 100% BEEF, CONTAINS 15% FAT." The following label is also applied to the package: "GROUND BEEF ROUND, CONTAINS 15% FAT."

* "EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF, 100% BEEF, 96% LEAN, 4% FAT." The following label is also applied to the package: "LEAN GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 4% FAT."

* "GROUND CHUCK PATTIES, 100% BEEF, CONTAINS 20% FAT." The following label is also applied to the package: "GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES, CONTAINS 20% FAT."

* "GROUND ROUND PATTIES, 100% BEEF, CONTAINS 15% FAT." The following label also applied to the package: "GROUND BEEF ROUND PATTIES, CONTAINS 15% FAT."

* 5-pound bags of "Our Own KITCHEN, 20 QUARTER POUND, 100% PURE, BEEF PATTIES."

* SUPER TRU BRAND MEAT, PRESTIGE GENUINE GROUND BEEF."

The following ground beef products subject to the original recall were distributed to the foodservice trade:

* 20-pound boxes of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2/10, PACKED FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE, 5829940."

* 20-pound boxes of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2/10, PACKED FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE, 7222201."

* 20-pound boxes of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2/10, PACKED FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE, 1003516."

* 20-pound boxes of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, 2/10, PACKED FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE, 1077643."

PRODUCTION DATES/IDENTIFYING CODES: Produced from August 20 through 24, 2002. The retail products have sell by dates of 8-29-02, 8-30-02, 8-31-02, 9-1-02 or 9-2-02. All of the products listed above include the establishment code "EST. 20654" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

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

HOW/WHEN DISCOVERED: On September 27, 2002, an investigation by FSIS, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health, connected the recalled products with cases of illness in Minnesota. On October 2, 2002, a FSIS investigation at the establishment determined that additional products produced on the same production dates are implicated.

FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT:

20654 M

Emmpak Foods, Inc.

200 S. Emmber Lane

Milwaukee, WI 53233

CONSUMER CONTACT: Emmpak Consumer Hotline, 877-817-7622

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Klein, Director of Communications, Emmpak, 414-978-6666

QUANTITY RECALLED: Approximately 2.8 million pounds (includes the original amount)

DISTRIBUTION: Retail markets and institutional foodservice customers nationwide.

RECALL CLASSIFICATION: Class I

RECALL NOTIFICATION LEVEL: Consumer

DIRECT NOTIFICATION MEANS: The firm has notified its customers orally and will follow-up in writing.

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

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED: Minnesota Department of Health

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: September 27, 2002 (Expanded October 2, 2002)

RECALL CASE NUMBER: 086-2002

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