Beef recalled for possible E.coli contamination

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An Arkansas firm voluntarily recalled about 20,000 pounds of frozen beef patties that may be contaminated with a dangerous strain of E.coli bacteria known as 0157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.

The frozen patties, made by the Hudson Foods Company of Rogers, Arkansas, were shipped to stores nationwide in June and July. Sixteen consumers in Colorado reported getting sick after eating the Hudson products in early July, the department said. Five of them were hospitalized and have since recovered.

The USDA wants any consumers who still have the products in their homes to return them to where they were purchased.

The recall includes all 48-ounce packages of "Hudson Beef Burgers, Individually Quick Frozen" with the code "156A7;" three-pound packages of "Hudson 100% Pure Beef Patties, Individually Frozen" with the code "156B7;" and 15-pound boxes of "Hudson 60 - 1/4 lb Beef Patties Uncooked, Individually Quick Frozen" with the code "155B7."

"Est. 13569" appears inside the USDA inspection seal on the label of the three products. No other products are affected by the recall.

E.coli 0157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most susceptible to the bacteria.

• Consumer News - Fitness and Health - Warnings
• Consumer News - Fitness and Health - Safety
• Consumer News - Food - Meat

Related stories:

• USDA: Take burger's temperature to prevent E. coli - June 10, 1997
• Study: Browned ground beef no safeguard against E. coli - May 19, 1997
• 5 die in possible Scottish E.coli outbreak - November 27, 1996
• Japan declares E. coli outbreak an epidemic - August 1, 1996
• Scientists wonder where E. coli lurks - October 17, 1995

Related sites:

• USDA's Home Page
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Home Page
• Safe Tables Our Priority (STOP) - a non-profit organization devoted to victim assistance, public education, and policy advocacy for safe food and public health
  • Preventing Foodborne Illness: Escherichia coli O157:H7
• FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
• The E. coli Index
• E. Coli Primer
• Welcome To Jack In The Box
  • Food Safety - statement from Dave Theno, Vice President, Quality Assurance, Product Safety.
• E. coli Information Page

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