Nebraska Beef Recall Associated with E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef, Ltd. in an Ohio E. coli case that is part of a Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef ground beef components. The Ohio and Michigan outbreak may be connected to a Georgia E. coli outbreak that has been linked to the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia.
EXPANDED NEBRASKA BEEF, LTD. RECALL: In response to the Michigan and Ohio outbreak, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has expanded its recall to over 5 million pounds of ground beef components (Expanded Nebraska Beef Recall) and Kroger has recalled an "undetermined amount" of ground beef products.sold at a number of stores, including Kroger stores (Kroger recall).
The supplier of the Kroger ground beef linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 35 people in Michigan and Ohio was Nebraska Beef, Ltd., an Omaha, Nebraska firm. In response to the outbreak, Kroger recalled an "undetermined amount" of Kroger ground beef products. (Read about the Kroger recall.) Nebraska Beef has recalled 531,707 pounds of ground beef components because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The potentially-contaminated ground beef components were distributed to a number of states, meaning cases of E. coli O157:H7 in other states may surface that are connected to the Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef.
The recalled Nebraska Beef ground beef components were sold to firms that processed the components into ground beef. This means that one contaminated component could have contaminated thousands of pounds of ground beef. The ground beef processors who used the recalled Nebraska ground beef components need to recall any ground beef products that may have been contaminated with the recalled ground beef components.
Our law firm has been retained to represent 20-year-old Zachary Everhart from Pickerington, Ohio, one of the victims of the E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef. In a recent interview on WBNS 10TV, Mr. Everhart had this to say, “It was very painful, actually severe abdominal pains for probably a duration of four days.” The WBNS story states:
Everhart said that in addition to having his medical bills paid for, he wants to send a message to those who sell, prepare and process ground beef to pay closer attention to how they clean the food they sell.
We are privileged to represent Mr. Everhart. (Read about our recent Kroger lawsuit filed on behalf of Zachary Everhart.) To contact our law firm about legal representation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email Fred Pritzker.
Recalled Nebraska Beef Products
The following Nebraska Beef products have been recalled:
- Combo bins of "Coleman 75/25 Trim." The shipping containers bear the case code "38097," and were produced on June 17. These products were sent to an establishment in Colorado for further processing.
- Combo Bins of "Coleman Plate Navel Combo." The shipping containers bear the case code "38044," and were produced on June 17 and 24. These products were sent to an establishment in Texas for further processing.
- 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Chuck." The boxes bear the case code "10260," and were produced on May 19. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
- 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Chuck." The boxes bear the case code "10263," and were produced on May 19. These products were distributed to wholesalers in New York.
- 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Knuckle." The boxes bear the case code "46140," and were produced on June 9. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois and New York.
- 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Clod." The boxes bear the case code "13060," and were produced on June 9. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois.
The shipping containers and product labels bear the establishment number "EST. 19336" inside the USDA mark of inspection, however these products were further processed into ground beef and will likely not bear the establishment number "EST. 19336" on products available for direct consumer purchase.
The additional following products subject to recall were sent to establishments in Nebraska for further processing and will likely not bear the establishment number "EST. 19336" on products then made available for direct consumer purchase include:
- Combo bins of "Coleman 85/15 Chuck." The shipping containers bear the case code "63503," and were produced on June 17 and June 24.
- Combo bins of "Coleman 85/15 Shank." The shipping containers bear the case code "26442," and were produced on June 17.
- Combo bins of "Coleman 80/20 Beef Trim." The shipping containers bear the case code "39521," and were produced on June 17.
- Combo bins of "Coleman 91/9 Trim." The shipping containers bear the case code "54674," and were produced on June 17 and June 24.
- Combo bins of "Coleman 85/15 Shank Combo." The shipping containers bear the case code "2644211," and were produced on June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef Front Shank." The shipping containers bear the case code "67200," and were produced on May 16, June 9, June 17 and June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef Hind Shank." The shipping containers bear the case code "67100," and were produced on May 16, June 17 and June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef Rose Meat." The shipping containers bear the case code "58860," and were produced on May 16 and June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef Heel Meat." The shipping containers bear the case code "66800," and were produced on June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef Loin Trimmings." The shipping containers bear the case code "66900," and were produced on June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef Chuck Trim Neck." The shipping containers bear the case code "67300," and were produced on June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef Chuck Trim 70%." The shipping containers bear the case code "67400," and were produced on June 24.
- Combo bins of "Nebraska Beef, Special Trim." The boxes bear the case code "56060," and were produced on May 16.
Nebraska Beef Association with the Michigan and Ohio E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
The possible E. coli contamination was discovered by FSIS through traceback investigations and ground beef samples collected from two federally inspected establishments positive for E. coli O157:H7, as well as multiple samples of Kroger brand ground beef positive for E. coli O157:H7, with matching pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. FSIS is continuing its investigation into any products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 or that are associated with illnesses and will take appropriate action when necessary.
Kroger brand ground beef samples were collected by the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health from patients in Michigan and Ohio. Nebraska Beef, Ltd., was identified as a common supplier to those stores in addition to two federally inspected establishments where FSIS obtained a positive ground beef sample that was matched to the outbreak strain identified in Michigan and Ohio.
The epidemiological investigations and a case control study conducted by the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that there is an association between the ground beef products and 35 illnesses reported in Michigan (17) and Ohio (18). The illnesses were linked through the epidemiological investigation and by their PFGE pattern, or DNA fingerprint, found in PulseNet, a database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Also as a result of the investigation, on June 25 FSIS announced a recall of ground beef products sold at Kroger retail establishments in Michigan and Central and Northwestern Ohio Kroger retail establishments.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.
Source: USDA-FSIS news release.
