Ground Beef and Buffalo Products in Nebraska Called Back Due to Possible E. Coli Contamination

WASHINGTON — Custom Pack, Inc., a Hastings, Neb., establishment, is voluntarily recalling nearly 6,000 pounds of ground beef and buffalo products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The products subject to recall include:

• 10-pound bags of “CUSTOM PACK, INC., GROUND BEEF.” Each label bears a package date of “6-1,” “6-4,” “6-5,” “6-7,” “6-8,” “6-11,” 6-12” or “6-13.”
• 25-pound boxes of “3.2 OZ. BEEF PATTIES.” Each box bears the package date of “6-7-07.”
• 25-pound boxes of “4 OZ. BEEF PATTIES.” Each box bears the package date of “6-7-07.”
• 25-pound boxes of “5 1/3 OZ. BEEF PATTIES.” Each box bears the package date of “6-7-07.”
• 25-pound boxes of “8 OZ. BEEF PATTIES.” Each box bears the package date of “6-7-07.”
• 6-pound boxes of “16-6 OZ. CHAR PATTIES.” Each box bears the package date of “6-7-07.”
• 12-pound boxes of “GROUND BUFFALO PATTIES.” Each box bears the package date of “6-7-07.”

Each package also bears the establishment number “Est. 5650” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The ground beef products were produced between June 1 and June 13, and were distributed to restaurants and institutions in Nebraska. The ground buffalo patties were produced on June 7, and distributed to restaurants and institutions in Colorado. None of these products were sold through grocery stores, the agency said in a release.

The problem was discovered through sampling done by the Nebraska Department of Health Services, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as part of an investigation into a reported illness, the agency reported.