California Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products

Recall Release CLASS I RECALL
FSIS-RC-065-2009 HEALTH RISK: HIGH

WASHINGTON, December 4, 2009 – Beef Packers, Inc., a Fresno, Calif., establishment, is recalling approximately 22,723 pounds of ground beef products that may be linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

60 pound cases of “GRD Beef Fine 93/07 10/60.” Each case bears the identifying case  code W69363 with Use/Freeze by dates of 10/11/09.

The ground beef products were produced on September 23, 2009 and bear the establishment number “EST. 31913″ printed on the case code labels. The ground beef products were distributed to a retail distribution center in Arizona. Because these products were repackaged into consumer-size 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.

Here is USA Today’s Headline I find very interesting:

Company Issues 2nd Recall for Tainted Beef

By Blake Morrison and Peter Eisler, USA TODAY
For the second time this year, a Fresno beef company is recalling thousands
of pounds  of ground beef contaminated with a drug-resistant strain of salmonella. Beef Packers Inc., owned by Cargill, announced the recall Friday. It covers 22,723 pounds of ground beef products that were sent to stores in Arizona and New Mexico.

WHY: Recall didn’t include school lunches
SECOND INFECTION: Family’s nightmare begins
      What’s happening? Read more…