SALMONELLOSIS, SEROTYPE NEWPORT - USA: GROUND BEEF, ALERT, RECALL

Date: Thu 6 Aug 2009
Source: US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) [edited]
<http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_041_2009_Release/index.asp>


Beef Packers, Inc., a Fresno, California, establishment, is recalling
approximately 825 769 pounds [375 tonnes] of ground beef products
that may be linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis, the US Department
of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced
today [6 Aug 2009].

The products subject to recall include:
- 60 pound cases of "GRD Beef Sirl Fine 90/10." Each case bears the
identifying case code W69012 with Use/Freeze by dates of 06/23/09,
06/26/09, 06/28/09, 06/29/09, 06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/05/09, 07/06/09,
07/07/09, 07/10/09, and 07/11/09.
- 60 pound cases of "Grnd Bf Fine Sir 90/10 10/60 H." Each case bears
the identifying case code W69064 with Use/Freeze by dates of
06/26/09, 07/03/09, 07/06/09, 07/07/09, and 07/14/09.
- 60 pound cases of "Grnd Beef 90/10 Fine 60." Each case bears the
identifying case code W69063 with Use/Freeze by dates of 06/23/09,
06/26/09, 06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/07/09, 07/10/09, and 07/11/09.
- 80 pound cases of "Grnd Beef Fine 91/09 10#/80." Each case bears
the identifying case code W69108 with Use/Freeze by dates of
06/30/09, 07/06/09, 07/08/09, and 07/13/09 .
- 60 pound cases of "Grnd Beef Fine 93/07 10/60." Each case bears the
identifying case code W69363 with Use/Freeze by dates of 06/23/09,
06/26/09, 06/28/09, 06/29/09, 06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/07/09, 07/10/09,
and 07/11/09.
- 60 pound cases of "Grnd Beef Fine 93/07 10#/60 H." Each case bears
the identifying case code W69360 with Use/Freeze by date of 06/26/09,
07/03/09, 07/06/09, 07/10/09, and 07/14/09.
- 40 pound cases of "GRD BEEF FINE 96/04-10#/40." Each case bears the
identifying case code W69602 with Use/Freeze by dates of 06/23/09,
06/30/09, 07/03/09, 07/07/09, 07/10/09, and 07/11/09.

The ground beef products were produced on various dates ranging from
5 Jun 2009 through 23 Jun 2009 and bear the establishment number
"EST. 31913" printed on the case code labels. The ground beef
products were distributed to retail distribution centers in Arizona,
California, Colorado, and Utah. Because these products were
repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different
retail brand names, consumers should check with their local retailer
to determine whether they may have purchased any of the products
subject to recall.

As a result of an ongoing investigation into an outbreak of
_Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Newport associated with ground beef
products, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE) notified FSIS of the situation. Epidemiological and traceback
investigations conducted by FSIS and CDPHE determined that there is
an association between the fresh ground beef products and illnesses
reported in Colorado. The illnesses were also linked through the
epidemiological investigation by their uncommon pulsed-field gel
electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern found in PulseNet, a national network
of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

FSIS would like to remind consumers of the importance of following
food safety guidelines when handling and preparing raw meat. Ground
beef should be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160
deg F [71 deg C].

This particular strain of _S._ Newport is resistant to many commonly
prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or
possible treatment failure in infected individuals.