Meat ReCall

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Recall Release CLASS I RECALLCongressional and Public AffairsHEALTH RISK: HIGHAmanda Eamich (202) 720-9113 FSIS-RC-040-2007 NEW JERSEY FIRM EXPANDS RECALL OF GROUND BEEF PRODUCTS DUE TO POSSIBLE E. COLI O157:H7 CONTAMINATION WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2007 – Topps Meat Company, LLC, an Elizabeth, NJ, establishment, is voluntarily expanding its Sept. 25 recall to include a total of approximately 21.7 million pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, theb160 ºF has been reached is a significant risk factor for foodborne illness. Thermometer use to ensure proper cooking temperature is especiallyimportant for those who cook or serve ground beef patties to people most at risk for foodborne illness because E. coli O157:H7 can lead to serious illness or even death. Those most at risk include young children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems.The recall is being expanded based on an additional positive product sample reported by the New York Health Department, reported illnesses and findings from a food safety assessment conducted by FSIS at the establishment. There are currently 25 illnesses under investigation in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. An investigation carried out by the New York Department of Health in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preceded the recall of Sept. 25. Frozen products still in commerce with an unexpired sell-by date are subject to this recall expansion. The company applies a one-year sell-by date to their frozen products. For best quality, FSIS recommends consumers use any frozen ground beef products within three to four months of the stated sell-by date. It is important that consumers look for the recalled products and return them if found in their freezers. The frozen ground beef products were produced on various dates between Sept. 25, 2006, and Sept. 25, 2007, and were distributed to food service institutions in the New York metropolitan area and to retail establishments nationwide. Each package bears the establishment number “Est. 9748” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a sell-by date between “SEP 25 07” and “SEP 25 08.” The products subject to the original and expanded recall include: • 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 4 OZ (4-1), 40 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 PIECES.”
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• 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 4 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60100, 40 PCS.” • 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 6 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60200, 27 PCS.” • 10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 8 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60300, 20 PCS.” • 3-pound boxes of “MIKE'S 12 SEASONED BEEF PATTIES.” • 5-pound boxes of “MIKE'S 20 SEASONED BEEF PATTIES.” • 3-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 16 BEEF BURGERS.” • 5-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 20 BEEF BURGERS.” • 10-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 40 BEEF BURGERS.” • 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 10 OZ H, 16 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.” • 10 pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 6 OZ, FLAT 27 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2 OZ, 80 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3.2 OZ, 50 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ, 40 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ, 32 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5.3 OZ, 30 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ, 27 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ, 23 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT, 20 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ H, 20 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 10 OZ H, 16 PIECES.”
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• 3-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 75/25, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.” • 6-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 75/25, 24 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.” • 3-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 80/20, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.” • 3-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 85/15, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (75/25), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 6 OZ, 27 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 10 OZ H, 16 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT ANGUS CHUCK BURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.” • 3-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 16 3 OZ BURGERS.” • 3-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.” • 5-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.” • 10-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 1 OZ SLIDER.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 10 OZ (PUB BURGER).” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2 OZ.”
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• 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2.67 OZ.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3 OZ HOMESTYLE.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 4 OZ (4-1) HOMESTYLE.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ FLAT.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ, 32 PIECES.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS 5 OZ (1/2-inch)” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (5/8-inch).” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (85/15).” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (HOMESTYLE).” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (PUB BURGER).” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ (75/25).” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT.” • 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 8 OZ (PUB BURGER)” • 1.5-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 3 OZ (8 COUNT).” • 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 3 OZ, 10 COUNT.” • 3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 6 OZ. PUB BURGERS.” • 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 8 QUARTER POUNDERS.” • 3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 12 QUARTER POUNDERS.” • 3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 16 HAMBURGERS.” • 5-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 20 QUARTER POUNDERS.” • 8-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 32 QUARTER POUNDERS.” • 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS WITH FIRE-ROASTED ONIONS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.” • 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS WITH PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.” • 2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.”
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• 10-pound boxes of “TOPPS HAMBURGERS, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3 OZ, 53 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ FLAT, 32 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ, 27 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.” • 10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”

Consumers, retails and distributors with questions about the recall should contact the company’s recall line at 888-734-0451. Media with questions should contact the company’s media representative at 917-648-3584. E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. # NOTE: Access news releases and other information at FSIS’ Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/

USDA RECALL CLASSIFICATIONS
Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the useof the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse healthconsequences from the use of the product.
Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse healthconsequences.