990814 New Hampshire Firm Recalls Ground BeefAugust 7, 1999Washington - About a quarter-million pounds of ground beef and frozen patties are being recalled nationwide and in Puerto Rico after a shipment was linked to contamination by e. coli bacteria. The meat was produced April 2 by Jac Pac Foods of Manchester, NH, which recalled the meat voluntarily. A boy in Monroe County, NY, became ill after eating a hamburger made with the meat, state officials said Friday. The meat was sold through BJ's Wholesale Club stores. E. coli O157 can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in children and the elderly. Symptoms include chills and bloody diarrhea. “Because of the potential hazard of foodborne illness from consumption of undercooked or underprocessed meat products contaminated with potentially harmful pathogens, we urge consumers who have purchased the suspect product not to eat it and to return it to the place of purchase,” said Thomas Billy, administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators for meat packaged in five- pound and 10-pound boxes with “EST 785” stamped on the USDA seal. For more information, call Jac Pac, 800-417-1241, or the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline, 800-535-4555.
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