990525 All American Meats Recalls Beef

Omaha, NE - Nearly 83,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled from Illinois, Indiana and Michigan after E. coli contamination was found in one meat sample.

All American Meats Inc., of Springfield, Neb., is recalling ground beef produced at an Omaha plant April 14, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Federal regulators said the meat was sold for further processing at places such as butcher shops and grocery stores, but they were prohibited by law from telling consumers or local health officials precisely which companies bought the meat.

The recalled beef was shipped in 10-pound blocks packed four or eight to a case. Each block has an expiration date of April 28 and includes Establishment 20420 in the inspection mark.

The contamination was discovered when a product sample taken by the inspection service on April 27 came back with a positive result for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in children and the elderly. Symptoms include chills and bloody diarrhea.

It was not immediately known if anyone has become ill after eating the meat.

The best defense for consumers against the bacteria is thoroughly cooking the beef, to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

The recall was ordered Tuesday. All American Meats has contacted its customers affected by the recall verbally and by letter, the government said.

This Article Compliments of...