Possible E. Coli Contamination Prompts Beef Recall

A beef recall is under way due to possible E. coli contamination. The Department of Agriculture issued the recall for 60,000 pounds of beef on Friday, after the E. coli bacteria was found in beef distributed by the National Beef Packaging Co.

This beef was distributed to some Winn-Dixie, Kroger and Publix grocery stores in Florida. Publix says the beef recall impacts its stores in the following counties: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Leon, Suwannee, Columbia, Alachua, Marion, Putnam, Clay, Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, Duval and Nassau. 

"As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted product has been removed from all store shelves,” said Maria Brous, Publix Media and Community Relations Director. 

Brous says that so far, there have been no reported cases of illness from the meat. E. coli can cause diarrhea, dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney disease.

Publix receives beef from this distributor and repackages it or uses it as an ingredient in other products sold at Publix stores.

The recalled products from Publix have sell-by-dates between July 25 and Aug. 12, 2011.

Here are the 27 Publix products impacted by the recall below. Publix says the recall does not involve beef sold in the Tampa Bay area. However, if you purchased this beef in one of the counties affected by the recall, you can return the product to your local Publix for a full refund.

        Item       GTIN/UPC      Product Description

• 93802  0029380200000  Seasoned Beef Meatballs
• 96643  0029664300000  Meat Loaf (Oven Ready)
• 96042  0029604200000  Ground Chuck Patties
• 96039  0029603900000  Ground Chuck
• 96640  0029664000000  Stuffed Peppers
• 93801  0029380100000  Seasoned Salisbury Steak
• 69282  0026928200000  Montreal Seasoned Chuck Patties
• 72426  0027242600000  Mesquite Seasoned Chuck Patties
• 75526  0027552600000  Badia Seasoned Chuck Patties
• 77699  0027769900000  Steakhouse Ground Chuck Patties
• 98002  0029800200000  Jalapeno Burger
• 98003  0029800300000  Bacon & Cheddar Burger
• 97376  0029737600000  A/B Ground Chuck
• 98000  0029800000000  Blue Cheese Burger
• 98153  0029815300000  SC Bacon Cheddar Burger
• 69224  0026922400000  SC Seasoned Beef Meatball
• 98150  0029815000000  SC Blue Cheese Burger
• 69160  0026916000000  SC Meat Loaf (Oven Ready)
• 16683  0021668300000  SC Stuffed Peppers
• 16682  0021668200000  SC Pork, Beef, Ham Meatball
• 98001  0029800100000  Horseradish Cheddar Burger
• 69535  0026953500000  SC Montreal Seasoned Chuck Patties
• 98151  0029815100000  SC Horseradish Burger
• 98152  0029815200000  SC Jalapeno Burger
• 99950  0029995000000  Ground Chuck Slider Patties
• 96043  0029604300000  Ground Chuck for Chili
• 96037  0029603700000  Beef and Pork for Meatloaf

Official Statement from Publix about the Beef Recall.

If you have questions, you can call Publix Consumer Relations Dept. at 1-800-242-1227.

Other stores that have also issued beef recalls include Winn-Dixie and Kroger. Publix has four Publix stores in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area and Winn-Dixie has one.

The Sun Sentinal reports that Winn-Dixie may have sold the beef in its store-brand ground chuck products:

        GTIN/UPC      Product Description

• 20170000000  Ground Chuck
• 29127700000  Ground Chuck Family Packages
• 20170100000  Ground Chuck Patties
• 29128200000  Ground Chuch Patties Family Packages

The National Beef Hotline is  1-877-800-6848.

The USDA's Meat & Poultry Hotline is 1-800-674-6854.

More information about Food Safety