The JBS Swift Beef Company of Colorado has expanded its beef recall to include 380,000 pounds of assorted beef products for E. coli contamination, according to an article on Consumer Reports' Web site. This expanded recall comes apparently as a result of an ongoing investigation into 24 food poisoning cases in multiple states including California. Eighteen of these incidents appear to be meat-related, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The recalled beef products were produced on April 21 and April 22. They were distributed to retail establishments in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. The names of retailers where this meat was sold has not yet been released.

E.Coli 0157:H7 is a deadly strain of bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, severe stomach cramps and nausea. In severe cases, E. Coli can cause kidney failure or even death. Those most prone to be afflicted with this bacterium include the elderly, young children and those with weakened immune systems.

The kind of recalled beef includes cuts of beef used for steaks and roasts rather than ground beef. However, officials are now saying that the larger cuts of the possibly contaminated meat may have been made into ground beef by other companies. The recalled beef was shipped in boxes with the establishment number "EST. 969" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the identifying package date of "042109" and a time stamp ranging from "0618" to "1130."

If you or a loved one is suffering from E. Coli symptoms as a result of consuming this particular brand of beef products, please contact experienced California personal injury attorneys to find out more about your legal rights and options. Your first step when you become afflicted with a food-borne illness is to contact your doctor or physician. You need to get the necessary treatment right away so that the infection does not become serious. You would also be well advised to immediately stop using the contaminated product, but save it so it can be examined by an expert for presence of E. Coli bacteria or contamination.

This recent recall is more evidence of the breakdown in our food safety system. I hope USDA officials get to the bottom of this recall and make sure all these contaminated beef products are taken off the market before they find their way to consumers' grills.

Bookmark and Share