California Firm Recalls Ground Beef Due to Possible E. coli Contamination

WASHINGTON — United Food Group, LLC, is voluntarily recalling approximately 75,000 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection said in a release.

The problem was discovered through sampling done by the California Department of Health Services and the Colorado Department of Health, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the course of an investigation into illnesses.

The ground beef products were produced April 20 for the Vernon, Calif.-based company, and were shipped to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah.

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 to foodborne illness.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact company Customer Service Representative James Turner at (800) 325-4164.

The labels of the products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST. 1241" inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. All of the products bear a sell by date of "May/06/07," a freeze by date of "May/07/07" or a produced on date of "April/20/07."

Products subject to recall include:

• 10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 73/27 fine ground beef."
• 10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
• 2-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 93/7 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 80/20 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 5-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 3-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
• 2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 93/7 ground beef."
• 2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 96/4 ground beef."
• 3-pound chubs of "STATER BROS. MARKETS 73/27 ground beef."