Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is advising consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for certain ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
Topps Meat Company, LLC, of Elizabeth, N.J., is voluntarily recalling approximately 331,582 pounds of frozen ground beef products.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible.
The products subject to recall include:
• 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 6 OZ. FLAT, 27 PIECES.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 4 OZ. (4-1), 40 PIECES.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 4 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60100, 40 PCS.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 6 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60200, 27 PCS.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 8 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60300, 20 PCS.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT, 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGERS 80/20, 8 OZ. FLAT, 20 COUNT.” Each box bears a packed-on date of “JUN 22 07.”
• 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT, 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGERS 85/15, 6 OZ. FLAT, 27 COUNT.” Each box bears a packed-on date of “JUN 22 07.”
• 2-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 8 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.”
• 2-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 3 OZ., 10 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.”
• 3-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 6 OZ. PUB Burgers.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
• 3-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 12 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.”
• 3-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 16 Hamburgers.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 5-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 20 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08,” “JUL 12 08” or “JUL 23 08.”
• 8-pound boxes of “Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 32 Quarter Pounders.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS 5 OZ. (1/2”).” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “Topps HAMBURGERS, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 12 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 8 OZ. (Pub Burger).” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 4 OZ. (4-1) Homestyle.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUL 23 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
• 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ FLAT, 32 COUNT.” Each box bears a sell-by date of “JUN 22 08.”
Each package also bears the establishment number “Est. 9748” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The frozen ground beef products were produced on June 22, July 12 or July 23 and were distributed to food service institutions in the New York metropolitan area and to retail establishments nationwide.
An investigation into a cluster of illnesses in the Northeast region carried out by the New York State Department of Health in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led to a positive product sample collected by the New York Department of Health.
Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact company Vice President of Finance and Administration Jeffrey Rohach at (908) 351-0500 ext. 50.
