SACRAMENTO (June 6, 2007) – Consumers should not eat Moran’s All Natural, Miller Meat Company, Stater Brothers Markets, Inter-American Products or Basha’s ground beef with a sell by date of “Apr/29/07” or “Apr/30/07,” a freeze by date of “Apr/28/07” or “Apr/30/07” or a produced on date of “April 13/07” because the products could be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and may cause serious health risks, State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton warned today.

United Food Group, LLC, based in Vernon, Calif., is voluntarily recalling an additional 370,000 pounds of ground beef products produced on April 13, 2007.   Today’s recall is an expansion of the company’s June 3 recall of 75,000 pounds of ground beef.

The affected products were distributed to Albertson’s, Basha’s, Grocery Outlet, Fry’s, “R” Ranch Markets, Sam’s Club (California, Arizona and Nevada stores only), Save-A-Lot, Save-Mart, Scolari’s Wholesale Markets, Smart and Final, Smith’s, Stater Bros., and Superior Warehouse.  Distribution of the affected lot includes the following 11 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Montana.

The recalled products were sold in 1-pound, 3-pound, 5-pound and 10-pound chubs and bear the establishment number "EST. 1241" inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. 

Consumers with recalled products should either throw the product away or return to point of purchase for a refund.  Consumers who may be concerned about the recalled ground beef may contact United Food Group's 24-hour toll-free hotline at (800) 325-4164 for assistance.

Illnesses have been reported from several states, including three in California. No deaths have been reported.  Leftover ground beef found in the homes of two ill consumers in California and Colorado was tested in state laboratories and was found to contain E. coli O157:H7.  Further analysis demonstrated that the DNA fingerprint of the bacterium in the leftover product matched the DNA fingerprint of the bacterium in 14 ill individuals.  The California Department of Health Services (CDHS) continues to work with the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture (USDA) and other state and federal agencies on this investigation

E. coli O157:H7 infection often causes abdominal cramps and diarrhea, sometimes bloody.  Those most at risk for serious complications of this foodborne illness include young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.  Consumers with any of these symptoms should call their physician. 

Consumers are reminded that ground beef cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees will kill harmful bacteria and is safe to eat, although CDHS is recommending consumers not attempt to cook these lots of recalled meat as a means to make the ground beef safe. The best way to be sure ground beef is properly cooked is to use an accurate food thermometer. For more information about food safety, visit the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service Web site at  www.fsis.usda.gov or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov. 

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