18 million pounds of beef recalled

Friday, July 19, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- A recall of contaminated hamburger linked to E. coli bacteria illnesses among 19 people is being expanded to 18 million pounds and 21 states, the Agriculture Department said today.

"This action is being taken as a cautionary measure to ensure the protection of public health," Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said. "Public health health is our number one priority and it is our number one concern."

The beef recall by ConAgra Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., expands a previous recall at the end of last month. E. Coli bacteria associated with the beef has sickened at least 19 people in Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming, the agency said.

State agricultural officials reviewed the FDA report Thursday and confirmed today that no commercial meat distributors in Nevada were affected by the recall, said David Thain, a veterinarian with the state Agriculture Department.

The meat was produced between April 12 and July 11, officials said. Officials are still collecting details and expect to release later information that will allow consumers to identify products that should be returned to stores or discarded.

"This has just begun," said Elsa Murano, the undersectary for food safety. She said no E. coli has been found at the plant since July 11.

ConAgra is cooperating with the Agriculture Department, officials said. Veneman, asked if the department will cite the company for violations, said a government investigation at the plant is continuing.

The recall is the biggest since 1997, when Hudson Foods recalled 25 million pounds of ground beef after 15 people in Colorado fell ill from E. coli after eating hamburger at its Columbus, Neb., plant.

Two weeks ago, the company recalled 354,200 pounds of ground beef and nearly a month after a positive E. coli test at a Denver packing house raised the first sign of trouble.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tracts and feces of livestock.

If it contaminates meat, it can lead to digestive illnesses and potentially death in humans. Health officials have been urging consumers to cook their ground beef to 160 degrees in the center to completely kill the pathogen.

Agriculture officials said there have been at least 17 confirmed cases of illness in Colorado, one in Wyoming and one in South Dakota. No one is currently hospitalized, although some people have been admitted and released, they said.

Testing is under way in other states as public health officials tried to establish the scope of the outbreak.

The voluntary recall is of beef trim which is used to make ground beef, as well as fresh and frozen ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7, officials said.