E. coli Prompts Recall of Alex & George Hamburger
E. coli O157:H7 found in a test sample of ground beef produced by a New York state wholesaler has prompted a recall of 4,663 pounds of the meat.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which discovered the contamination in routine testing, announced the recall late Monday. Alex & George Wholesale Inc. of Rochester, N.Y., said the hamburger may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly pathogen. FSIS said the meat at issue was produced April 29 and distributed by Alex & George to restaurants in western New York state.
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The FSIS said anyone in the region who is sick and suspects they may have eaten contaminated "A & G'' ground beef should see a doctor. People who have confirmed infections of E. coli should also call an E. coli lawyer at national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen. The attorneys can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by writing to us online for a free case consultation.
The recalled meat was packaged in bulk by Alex & George in 10-, 25- and 30-pound plastic bags. It was also sold in 10-pound cases of patties and in 48-count packages of ground beef "pucks.'' The recalled packages have "EST 4553" stamped inside the USDA mark of inspection.
E. coli O157:H7 is an organism that can cause death in very young children and the elderly. Symptoms include watery or bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramping, possible mild fever and possible nausea or vomiting. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a potential serious complication of E. coli infection and it can cause kidney failure.
Pritzker Olsen has represented E. coli victims and their families around the country and is involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness. Founder Fred Pritzker and members of his firm are frequent guests and commentators about food safety issues and have been interviewed by and profiled in a number of media sources including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and The Associated Press.
E.coli in an "enteric" bacteria, which by definition means it originates in animals' intestines, and by extension, on manure-covered hides. Well, Alex & George Wholesale does NOT slaughter, but merely further processes meat it purchases from its source slaughter providers. Like the majority of other E.coli recalls this century, Alex & George unwittingly purchased meat from its suppliers which had been previously contaminated with invisible E.coli 0157:H7. USDA has constructed numerous artificial barriers preventing the agency from conducting tracebacks to the origin. Instead, USDA is perfectly content throwing its enforcement hammer against the small downline plants which lack the political clout and economic wherewithal to engage the agency in protracted litigation when USDA unethically assesses all responsibility against the destination meat establishment. Yes, the big packers enjoy political clout, and deep pockets, so the agency adroitly avoids any confrontation with the multinational packers, who constitute a powerful adversary. Until this nation develops the courage to Force the Source, USDA will continue to Destroy the Destination plants. And, public health and consumer food safety continue to be imperiled. John Munsell