FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2000
MEDIA ADVISORY
(Columbia)---To alert the public to a possible health problem, the SC Department of Agriculture forwards the following recall advisory issued by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. For more information, contacts are listed below.
RECALL NOTIFICATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
PRODUCTS RECALLED: Ground Beef, Ground Chuck Patties and Ground Beef Burgers
PRODUCTION DATES/IDENTIFYING CODES: The ground beef products were produced on July 18, 2000. The ground beef products being recalled bear the establishment number "1198A" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a production code beginning with "07180" and ending with "21," "22," or "25."
Products subject to recall are:
* "GROUND BEEF BURGERS (OMAHA STEAKS BURGERS)" in 48 ozs. boxes of 12 burgers, 4 ozs. each. Each box is marked with item number "658."
* "OMAHA STEAKS ANGUS GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES" in 12.5 lb. boxes of 25 burgers, 8 oz. each. Each box is marked with item number "3611080."
* "GROUND BEEF BURGERS (OMAHA STEAKS BURGERS)" in 24 ozs. boxes of 6
burgers, 4 ozs. each. Each box is marked with item number "1249."
* "GROUND BEEF" in 50 lbs. boxes containing two 25-lb. bags. Each box is marked with item number "0710004."
* HORIZON brand "GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES (ANGUS)" in 10 lb. boxes of 32 burgers, 5 oz. each. Each box is marked with item number "4011050."
PROBLEM/REASON FOR RECALL: Possible Escherichia coli O157: H7 contamination.
HOW/WHEN DISCOVERED: An FSIS investigative microbiological sample reported positive for E. coli O157:H7 on October 27, 2000. The investigation was due to E.coli O157:H7 illness in the State of Connecticut not definitively linked to the recalled product. The investigation and laboratory analysis is on going.
FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT:
Establishment 1198 A
Omaha Steaks International Inc.
9203 F Street
Omaha, NE 68127
CORPORATE CONTACT: Mr. Robert Bezousek; Director of Plant Operations (402) 331-1010
CONSUMER CONTACT: Product Safety Information Line; (877) 789-7117
MEDIA CONTACT: Ms. Sharon Bargas, Public Relations Manager; (402) 597-3000
QUANTITY RECALLED: Approximately 22,000 pounds
DISTRIBUTION: Nationwide to mail order, retail, wholesale, Internet sale and door to door.
RECALL CLASSIFICATION: Class I
DIRECT NOTIFICATION: The firm has notified its wholesale customers orally and will follow-up with letters. For the retail customers, the firm will issue a national press release and create a special website http://www.omahasteaks.com/safety
FSIS FOLLOWUP ACTIVITIES: Effectiveness checks by the FSIS, District Enforcement Operations.
OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED: No
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: www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/recalls/rec_intr.htm
DATE OF RECALL MEETING: October 27, 2000
RECALL CASE NUMBER: EP 071-00