Ranchers Beef, a Canadian Firm, Linked to Topps E. coli Outbreak
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a joint investigation between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the FSIS has found that Ranchers Beef, Ltd., a Canadian firm, is the likely source of the multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the Topps Meat Company. Ranchers Beef, Ltd. provided trim to the Topps Meat Company. While the firm, which had been located in Balzac, Alberta, ceased operations on August 15, 2007, some product remained in storage and was collected and tested by CFIA as part of the joint investigation of the Topps recall and as part of CFIA's own investigation into 45 illnesses in Canada from E. coli O157:H7.
"We appreciate the assistance from our food safety partners in Canada. This piece of information helped us to determine a likely source of contaminated product which led to the September 29 Topps Meat Company expanded recall," stated under secretary for food safety Dr. Richard Raymond. "We have a long history of cooperation and collaboration with CFIA."
PulseNet provided verification to FSIS that the PFGE pattern of E. coli found on Ranchers Beef trim matched those from patients who were ill and from positive tests conducted by the New York Department of Health on product (both intact packages and open packages from patients' homes) that was later recalled by the Topps Meat Company on September 29. PulseNet is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) searchable database of all PFGE patterns from patients and food products in the United States.
As of October 26, CDC reported 40 illnesses under investigation in 8 states, with 21 known hospitalizations. The latest onset of illness is September 24, 2007. This summer was the first time this rare PFGE pattern had been seen in North America. Read the CDC update on the Topps E. coli outbreak on our website.
As the result of the Topps Meat Company recall investigation, FSIS had delisted Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630, on October 20, 2007. No product from that firm has been eligible to come into the U.S. since that date.
Today, FSIS notified industry to hold all boneless beef manufacturing trim from Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630, or raw products produced in whole or in part from these products until the joint investigation is completed. The Agency has also today issued a Notice to inspection program personnel in the field to retain these products.
On October 23, FSIS announced new, ongoing and upcoming actions to protect public health against the risk of E. coli O157:H7, including expanded testing, including testing of imported trim at the border. On October 19, FSIS notified countries that export beef to the U.S. of new policies and programs and is working with them to ensure they implement the same or equivalent measures to protect the public from E. coli O157:H7 risks.