Yet another reason to eat less meat...

Meat recalls are occurring with alarming frequency: Over the past 1.5 years the American meat industry has experienced a huge number of beef recalls. 40 million pounds of meat tainted with highly toxic E. coli O157:H7 has been publicly recalled, up by a staggering factor of two hundred from the 2006 amount of only 181,900 pounds. The interesting/disturbing thing about this one is that the company implicated is not a slaughter facility -- they just process/pack the meat received from the slaughterhouse. And it is quite likely that the source of the contamination precedes S&S Foods. Meaning, this recall is putting blame on the wrong company! Here's the latest...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2008: S&S Foods LLC., an Azusa, Calif., firm, is recalling approximately 153,630 pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The following product is subject to recall:

• 30-pound boxes of 742798 MFST, 100% GROUND BEEF BULK, 80/20, 1LB. BRICK.

These boxes of frozen ground beef products bear the establishment number EST. 20375 inside the USDA mark of inspection, and a case code beginning 06238 ink-jet printed on the side of the box. This product was intended for food service and institutional use and not for direct retail purchase.

The problem was discovered through a joint epidemiological investigation by FSIS and the Virginia Department of Health as well as product testing by the Virginia Department of Health.

These ground beef products were shipped to distribution centers located in Milwaukee, Wis., and Allentown, Penn.

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.

FSIS has received 11 reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Keith Dunning at (626) 625-2039. Media with questions should contact Jeff Grohs, company Vice President of Business Development at (626) 625-2039.

Consumers with food safety questions can Ask Karen, the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.