Thousands upon thousands of pounds of bison meat are to be recalled by a Colorado meat company over concerns that the product is contaminated by a deadly strain of E. coli, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Friday.
Approximately 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized bison meat are to be recalled by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats of Henderson, Colorado.
E. coli O157:H7 is a particularly deadly form of the bacteria and FSIS said that there was a “cluster” of people suffering from the illness in Colorado.
Thus far, five people in Colorado and one person in New York have been diagnosed as falling ill due to the bacteria between June 4 and June 9. E. coli O157:H7 can be potentially deadly, causing bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure, the FSIS said.
The meat products were produced between May 21 and May 27, and were distributed throughout the country to various distributors and stores.
The FSIS said that the "sell by" dates for the products, all with the establishment number EST. 20247, have passed, but consumers may have frozen the meat.
All bison products should be cooked at a temperature of at least 160 degrees F, FSIS said.
The retail distribution list for this batch of b ison meat can be accessed at the website: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.
The products include:
- 16-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of Nature's Rancher Ground Buffalo. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 22, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of The Buffalo Guys All Natural Ground Buffalo 90% Lean. These products have a lot number of 0147.
- 12-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison Steak Medallions. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 23 and June 24, 2010.
- 12-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison Sirloin Steaks. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010.
- 15-pound boxes of Rocky Mountain Natural Arts, Inc. Bison 10 Oz. Sirloin Steak. These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.
No comments:
Post a Comment