000530 E. Coli Fears Lead to Ground Beef RecallMay 28, 2000Washington - A Kentucky company recalled 300 pounds of ground beef suspected of carrying the deadly E. coli bacteria. The meat, which may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7, was packaged in five- and ten-pound bags and sold to restaurants in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. No illnesses have been reported from the ground beef, processed by Thomas Food Service of Louisville on May 17, the USDA said. Boxes containing the suspect beef were stamped with the USDA mark 7914. The boxes were also labeled with the product name, Thomas Brand of Fresh Ground Beef, plus the number 1380. Consumers may want to ask restaurants in the affected states if the business received any of the recalled product, the USDA said. E. coli 0157:H7 is one of the deadliest food-borne illnesses. It can cause bloody diarrhea, kidney failure and death in young children, the elderly and others with weak immune systems. Thorough cooking of ground beef to a temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit destroys the bacteria.
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