Beef Recalled for E Coli O157:H7
On May 21, 2009 the USDA’s Food Safety & Inspection Services (FSIS) issued a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall, on nearly 100,000 lbs of ground beef products produced by Valley Meats of Coal Valley, Illinois. The meat is believed to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. This type of E. Coli infection can lead to the dangerous and sometimes fatal disease hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is associated with high blood pressure, swelling of the extremities or the entire body, and possibly eventual kidney failure and death.
The recall was prompted by the discovery through epidemiological investigation of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in groups of people in three states. In other words, people have already been sickened by products related to this recall. Additional reports of illness are expected.
The meat was produced in March and distributed in 10-pound to 40-pound packages. The tainted beef was sold under brand names such as 3S, Grillmaster, J&B, Klub, Thick ‘N Savory and Ultimate. A list of all recalled items can be food on this E. Coli recall update.
The Cleveland Department of Health announced that a young girl died over the weekend due to what is believed to be an infection with e. Coli 0157:H7. It is believed that the girl consumed tainted meat produced by Valley Meats and likely suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which may have caused her death. Three others have reported infections including a 3-year-old girl, a 24-year-old man and a 71-year-old man. These three have recovered or are currently recovering from their injuries. Additional infections are likely to be reported.
Thank you for puttting this information out there,a lot of people such as myself don,t have a clue what ecoli is and what dangerous effect that it can cause.I just ate a hamburburger the other day and I had to take it back because it tasted as if it was spoiled and the meat didn,t taste like ground beef.I will go to doctor and get checked out.By the way this was in Wisconsin.Thanks again
[...] E. coli O157:H7 is not a bacterium to be played around with. It is an extremely dangerous strain of E. coli that can present symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, dehydration, fever, fatigue, and nausea. E. coli O157:H7 can lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a disease that sometimes results in kidney failure and eventual death. Whatever the ongoing problem is at Establishment 5712, it needs to be eliminated before it claims more lives. [...]
[...] The recall may, in fact, be too late to prevent related E. coli O157:H7 infections, because the contaminated ground beef products most likely have already been consumed between the time of distribution and the discovery of linked illnesses in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. This is among the many reasons why our food system is in need of strong trace-back regulation and enforcement so that the source of food poisoning can be identified and eliminated as quickly as possible. Of course, an even more effective approach is for meat producers to eliminate E. coli and other foodborne pathogens before products ever come into contact with the consumer, thus preventing such horrific tragedies as the death of a seven-year-old child. [...]