Oklahoma Company Recalls 248,000 Pounds of Beef contaminated with E. coli*

National Steak and Poultry recalls 248,000 pounds of beef, contaminated
with E. coli

The Associated Press

OWASSO, Okla.

National Steak and Poultry is voluntarily recalling about 248,000 pounds
of beef it is contaminated with a strain of E. coli bacteria. The
company said the meat could be linked to illnesses in six states.

The Owasso-based company and the U.S. Agriculture Department announced
the recall on Monday. National Steak and Poultry says on its Web site
the beef products "could potentially be implicated in an outbreak" of
illnesses related to E. coli.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service became aware of the
problem while investigating a cluster of illnesses and determined there
is an association between non-intact steaks — which have been blade
tenderized prior to further processing — and illnesses in Colorado,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington.

Colorado health officials said one person was sickened there in November
but wasn't hospitalized. The E. coli strain is one that has caused
large-scale outbreaks of life-threatening illness via contaminated food
and water.

The products being recalled include various sizes of the company's
"Boneless Beef Sirloin Steak," "Boneless Beef Tips," "Savory Sirloin
Tips," "Bacon Wrapped Beef Fillet," "Beef Shoulder Marinated Tender
Medallions," "75 percent Boneless Beef Trimmings," "Beef Trimmings" and
"Beef Sirloin Philly Steak."

Also being recalled are various sizes of "EGN Boneless Beef Sirloin
Steak," "EGN Boneless Beef Sirloin Tri Tip Steak," "KRM Boneless Beef
Sirloin Steak," "Carino's Boneless Beef Outside Skirt Steak," "Carino's
Boneless Beef Outside Skirt Steak Pieces" and "Moe's Beef Steak."

National Steak and Poultry said the recalled products are in packages
bearing a label with the establishment number "EST. 6010T" inside the
USDA mark of inspection and packaging dates of "10/12/2009,"
"10/13/2009," "10/14/2009," or "10/21/2009." The company said the
products were shipped to restaurants nationwide.

The company said in a statement that the recalled beef was produced at
its Owasso facility. It said the recall is limited to beef products sold
primarily to the Moe's, Carino's Italian Grill, and KRM restaurants in
the six states.

National Steak and Poultry said the recall is the first in its 30-year
history.

"Our company's paramount concern is for the safety and health of
consumers," said Tanya Ward, National Steak and Poultry's senior manager
of quality assurance.

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