Million pounds of E. Coli tainted beef recalled
Pastor Dale Morgan
Million pounds of E. Coli tainted beef recalled*
* Story Highlights
* Cargill trying to retrieve contaminated ground beef
* Product may harbor E. coli O157:H7 bacteria
* Meat distributed to retailers in 10 Eastern states
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AP) -- The giant agribusiness company Cargill
Inc. said Saturday it is recalling more than 1 million pounds of ground
beef that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
Cargill says the beef being recalled was produced October 8-11.
The ground beef was produced October 8-11 at Cargill Meat Solutions'
plant in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania and distributed to retailers.
Affected retailers include Giant, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Wegmans and
Weis in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Cargill learned the meat may be contaminated after the Agriculture
Department found a problem with a sample of the beef produced on October
8, the company said. The bacterium is E. coli O157:H7.
"No illnesses have been associated with this product," John Keating,
president of Cargill Regional Beef, said in a statement. "We are working
closely with the USDA to remove this product from the marketplace."
E. coli is harbored in the intestines of cattle. Improper butchering and
processing can cause the E. coli to get onto meat. Thorough cooking, to
at least 160 degrees internal temperature, can destroy the bacteria.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody
diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and people with
compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to E. coli.
Cargill Meat Solutions, based in Wichita, Kansas, is the umbrella
organization of Cargill's beef, pork and turkey businesses.
The Wyalusing plant produces 200 million pounds of ground beef annually.
Cargill Inc., based in Wayzata, Minnesota, is one of the nation's
largest privately held companies. It makes food ingredients, moves
commodities around the world and runs financial commodities trading
businesses.