Recall of the Week: Valley Meat Co. beef products due to possible E. coli contamination

Valley Meat Co., a California firm, is recalling about one million pounds of frozen ground beef patties and bulk ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS announced this week.

FSIS became aware of the problem in July when the agency was notified by the California Department of Public Health or CDPH that seven patients had a rare strain of E. coli O157:H7.

The two health agencies and the company are investigating the outbreak.

See this listing for the products involved in the recall.

The products being recalled bear the establishment number "EST. 8268" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a production code of 27509 through 01210. The products were produced between Oct. 2, 2009, through Jan. 12, 2010, and were distributed to retail outlets and institutional foodservice providers in California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona, and internationally. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may still be frozen and in consumers' freezers. The agency strongly encourages consumers to check their freezers and immediately discard any product that are being recalled.

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 contact a health care provider.

If you have questions about the recall, call Valley Meat Co. representatives Vanessa Smith at 916-492-5314 or Brooke Burgess at 916-492-5321. Consumers also may call a company sponsored help desk at 866-221-6474. In addition, they can log on to: www.valleymeat.com/our-team/recall-information/.