E. coli. Contaminated Beef Recall Expanded to Millions of Pounds*

Sunday June 10, 2007 3:46 AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A meat supplier has greatly expanded a ground beef
recall, which now includes about 5.7 million pounds of fresh and frozen
meat that may be contaminated with E. coli.

David Goldman, acting administrator of the USDA Food Safety and
Inspection Service, announced on Saturday that the recall would be
expanded to include products with sell-by dates from April 6-April 20.
The beef, sold in 11 Western states, was distributed by California-based
United Food Group LLC.

Goldman said that none of the latest batch of suspect beef is in stores
now because the product would be well past its expiration date, but
consumers may still have some of the meat at home.

``It is important for consumers to look in their freezers,'' Goldman said.

The meat has been blamed for an E. coli outbreak in the Western states
that resulted in 14 illnesses, spanning April 25 through May 18. All the
patients have recovered.

On Wednesday, United Food Group expanded an initial recall of 75,000
pounds of ground beef, adding another 370,000 pounds based on
``unspecified concerns'' raised by the California State Department of
Health Services. This meat had sell-by dates from April 29-May 6.

The recalled products were shipped to stores in Arizona, California,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington
and Wyoming. They were sold under the brand names Moran's All Natural,
Miller Meat Company, Stater Bros., Trader Joe's Butcher Shop,
Inter-American Products Inc. and Basha's.

The affected grocery stores included Albertson's, Basha's, Grocery
Outlet, Fry's, ``R'' Ranch Markets, Save-A-Lot, Save-Mart, Scolari's
Wholesale Markets, Smart and Final, Smith's, Stater Bros. and Superior
Warehouse.

E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause stomach cramps
and diarrhea that may turn bloody. E. coli can sometimes lead to
complications including kidney failure.

Customers with questions about the recall can call United Food Group's
hot line at 1-800-325-4164. Those with recalled products should either
throw the product away or return it to the point of purchase for a refund.