E Coli prompts Tyson to recall ground beef (2nd recall this week)

[Maddy McCall]

Source: North Country Gazette

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. has recalled more than 40,000 pounds of ground beef, sold in pre-packaged trays, shipped to Wal-Mart stores in 12 states after samples tested at a Sherman, Texas, plant showed signs of E. coli contamination.

The trays are placed directly into the meat case by the retailer. The product was produced on June 2. Each package bears the establishment code EST 244S as well as a “use or freeze by” code date of June 13, 2007.

Tyson said that to date, there have been no illnesses reported or associated with any packages of ground beef produced by the Sherman plant. However, the company is conducting the voluntary recall as a precautionary measure. This recall is not related to a recent ground beef recall initiated by a California based meat company.

The recalled products include:
–1½-pound trays of Angus steak burger all natural, 85/15, 6¼-pound patties;
–1.33-pound trays of Angus steak burger all natural, 85/15, extra thick, 4 1/3-pound patties;
–2¼-pound trays of 73/27 all-natural ground beef; and
–5½-pound trays of 73/27 all-natural ground beef.

Tyson said only Wal-Mart received the ground beef. Wal-Mart, Inc., has reportedly removed the product from sale and is destroying all of the recalled ground beef still in its possession at its distribution centers and stores. The affected product was distributed to Wal-Mart stores in 12 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Consumers are reminded that thorough cooking kills harmful bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7. Consumers should only eat ground beef that has been cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 160° F.



Read more: http://www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2007/06/09/beef_recall-2/

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If you've bought ground beef at Walmart recently, you need to call these numbers:

1-800-233-6332 (Tyson)
1-800-925-6278 (Walmart)

[Omaha Steve]

1. One recall I don't have to worry about

It has been a long time since anybody in our family went to Walmart or Sam's. Most of you know our reasons why.

[Maddy McCall]

2. I might buy printer cartridges at Walmart...

but I don't buy meat at Walmart.

We have a local butcher at the Piggly Wiggly in town. I've never gotten bad meat at the Pig. The butcher is awesome. If you want ribeyes 1 1/2 " thick, he brings the whole ribeye out to see if it meets with your expectations, and then he goes back and cuts your steaks...and you pay the same price you pay for what's already on the shelf.

I have bought ground meat at WalMart in the past...but that was back when they had butchers on staff. Once those butchers tried to unionize, they did away with butchers at every store and started contracting with Tyson and other meat packers.

I see this recall as a little bit of karma for the way they treated their meat department employees.

In short--Walmart meat sucks. Buy local.