Company Recalling Ground Beef Sold to Retail Markets in Colorado Due to Salmonella Thursday, August 6, 2009
DENVER— The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment today announced that Beef Packers, Inc., a Fresno, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 826,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be linked to an outbreak of illness from Salmonella Newport.
Most people recover without treatment. However, anyone experiencing symptoms such as severe diarrhea should contact a physician. In some individuals, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses.
Most people became ill during late June and early July, with the most recent illness occurring July 13. Because it can take at least two weeks for cases of illness to be reported to the state health department, it is possible additional cases may be reported. This is the second large outbreak of Salmonella the department has investigated since July 1. Both outbreaks have been linked to ground beef.
The ground beef products were distributed to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah. Point of purchase information is not available on the other Colorado cases. At this time, it is not known whether the product was distributed to other stores.
Because these products were repackaged into consumer-sized packages and sold under different retail brand names, consumers should check with their local retailer to determine whether they may have purchased any of the products subject to recall.
As part of its investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Newport associated with ground beef products, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment notified the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service of the situation. Epidemiologic and traceback investigations determined there is an association between the fresh ground beef products and illnesses reported in Colorado.
Daniel Rifkin, wholesale food program manager with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, advises consumers to check their freezers for any recalled product and discard it because of the potential to contaminate hands or the kitchen with the meat. The product also can be returned to place of purchase.
The very young, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to food borne illness; however, anyone can be infected with Salmonella.
Contact: Mark Salley Director, Office of Communications 303-692-2013
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