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New Recall of meat

"The USDA said it is unable to explain why there have been so many outbreaks. " :shock:

If you don't make any effort to stop any cases at the source, you're going to get more! :mad: :mad:



If the checkoff folks want to do some good, they should be expending efforts to get this recall nonsense stopped. I doesn't do any good to promote a food people are scared to eat.
 
We don't understand why it took so long to recall this meat. If there was a victim in August, it should have been revealed weeks ago," said Jean Halloran of the Consumers Union.

William Marler, E. coli Lawyer, calls for Congressional Hearings on the Safety of the US meat supply.
Posted on September 29, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

Source of Article: http://www.marlerblog.com/

Earlier this year J. Patrick Boyle, President and Chief Executive of the American Meat Institute, wrote in part in the New York Times: "Since 1999, the incidence of E. coli in ground beef samples tested by the Agriculture Department has declined by 80 percent to a fraction of a percent, a level once thought impossible." At the time I agreed with Mr. Boyle. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, E. coli outbreaks linked to tainted meat declined by 42 percent. But something has changed, and it has not changed for the better.

Here are the facts. A decade ago most of my clients were sickened by E. coli-tainted meat. In fact, between 1993 and 2002 I recovered over $250 Million from the meat industry and restaurants in verdicts and settlements on behalf of those clients, mostly children with kidney failure caused from consuming E. coli-tainted hamburger. And, then it stopped. From 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 and through the spring of 2007 there were few recalls or illnesses tied to hamburger. I did not sue the meat industry often and I touted it, as a model of what an industry could do that was right to protect consumers.

But then it changed this spring. Since April of this year, nearly 30,000,000 pounds of red meat, mostly hamburger, has been recalled. E. coli illnesses once on a downturn have spiked. Kids are getting sick; seriously sick again. For example, at 2:00 this morning, Topps Meat Company expanded its 300,000-pound recall to include 21,700,000 pounds of ground beef; as of this morning 25 people are sickened in eight states. This recall tops the Con Agra recall of 19,000,000 pounds in 2002 that sickened over forty and killed one and is just under the 25,000,000 pounds recalled by now-bankrupt Hudson Foods in 1997. And, this is not the first time Topps was caught selling E. coli contaminated meat.
Other outbreaks and recalls in the last few months include: (1) six people in Washington, two people in Oregon and one in Idaho who became sick from E. coli-tainted organic beef ground by Interstate Meat. 42,000 pounds of meat was recalled. (2) Thirteen people have been confirmed ill with E. coli infections after eating ground beef produced by United Food Group sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Montana. Over 5,700,000 pound of meat have been recalled. (3) Tyson Fresh Meats recalled 40,440 pounds of ground beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli. (4) Seven Minnesotans were confirmed as part of the E. coli outbreak that prompted PM Beef Holdings to recall 117,500 pounds of beef trim products that was ground and sold at Lunds and Byerly's stores. (5) Twenty-seven people have been confirmed ill with E. coli infections in Fresno County. The Fresno County Department of Community Health inspected the "Meat Market" in Northwest Fresno, the source of the outbreak. (6) At least two people were confirmed ill with E. coli infections in Michigan after eating ground beef produced by Davis Creek Meats and Seafood of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The E. coli outbreak prompted Davis Creek Meats and Seafood to recall approximately 129,000 pounds of beef products that were distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. (7) Three Napa Valley children became sick from hamburger patties sold at a St. Helena Little League snack shack. 100,000 pounds of hamburger (that was a year old) was recalled. And, ( Several people were confirmed ill with E. coli infections in Pennsylvania after eating E. coli-contaminated meat products at Hoss's Family Steak and Sea Restaurants, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain that purchased its meat from HFX, Inc., of South Claysburg, Pennsylvania. As a result of the outbreak, HFX recalled approximately 4,900 pounds of meat products.

One would think that with hundreds of Americans poisoned that Congress would ask one simple question – "What is going on?" Congress needs to act now. It is time for Congress to accept a leadership role and call hearings, not only to explore the reasons for the past months' outbreaks, but also to help prevent the next one. Congress must reach out to all facets of the meat industry, from "farm to fork," to consumers who bear the burden of illnesses, and to academics and regulators to find reasonable, workable solutions to prevent meat-related illnesses. More regulation may not help. Testing all products may not be feasible. More funding for enforcement for the CDC and USDA may not work. And, more funding for university research may also not be the answer. However, getting all to the same table is a start. Congress needs to do the inviting.
 
We don't understand why it took so long to recall this meat. If there was a victim in August, it should have been revealed weeks ago," said Jean Halloran of the Consumers Union.

I can believe why-- Have you ever tried to contact the USDA about something you may think is a problem... :???: Good luck if they even talk to you....

Few years back when the reports were coming out about the Fort Dodge West Nile Virus vaccine causing abortions and fetus absorbtions in mares-- I had a mare that absorbed her fetus....Since she was the only one that did- and also the only one I had vaccinated (best mare on place)-- I called the 800 number that USDA had for reporting this problem...I tried a half dozen times and only got the USDA answering machine- finally left a message with name, phone #'s on how to contact me, address, - everything but the position of the wart on my butt...After not hearing from them in about 2 weeks- I again left a message and sent an e-mail...
I'm still waiting for them to return my call :roll: :wink: :lol:
 
Can we BLAME NCBA about the USDA response!! Its nothing but Former NCBA ers in the USDA.

Today, it is, in effect, the Agribusiness Industry's Department, since its policies on issues such as food safety and fair market competition have been shaped to serve the interests of the giant corporations that now dominate food production and distribution."

"It is not surprising that USDA is slavishly following the agenda of agribusiness when you consider who holds many of the top jobs at the Department," said Philip Mattera, Director of the Corporate Research Project of Good Jobs First and author of the report. "The upper ranks of USDA are filled with industry veterans, while people formerly associated with family-farm, consumer or public-interest groups are just about nowhere to be found."

In addition to working directly for agribusiness companies such as ConAgra and Campbell Soup, top USDA officials came to the Department from industry trade associations (such as the Food Marketing Institute) and producer groups (such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council), which are closely aligned with big processing companies and are partially funded by them.
 
The meat was sold under several different brand name labels, including Topps, WalMarts Sam's Choice, and Shoprite ,Shaw's Supermarkets Inc. ,and Stop & Shop, Supermarket Cos, Mike's , Waldbaum's, King Kullen and at Fiesta Marts in Houston, Dallas and Austin Texas, Pathmark Foods dist,United Supermarkets ,Giant Foods,etc.The boxed, frozen hamburgers were distributed to retail grocery stores and food service institutions throughout the United States.
 
BEEF RECALL
Currently, health officials are investigating 29 illnesses in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

An investigation by the New York Department of Health and the CDC preceded Topps' Sept. 25 ground beef recall.

ADDED TODAY
recalling 22 million pounds of hamburger meat, including meat sold here in San Diego. The recall is nationwide and is due to E.Coli being found in the product.

Lena' Lewis is at Albertson's in Tierrasanta, one of the possible locations where this meat is being taken off the shelves at this moment.
Military commissaries were also listed as possible carriers of the product
Meijer stores, Wal-Mart Supercenters everywhere,
3-pound bags of Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet beef burgers, 75/25, 12 quarter pound round patties
6-pound bags of Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet beef burgers, 75/25, 24 quarter pound round patties
3-pound bags of Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet beef burgers, 80/20, 12 quarter pound round patties
3-pound bags of Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet beef burgers, 85/15, 12 quarter pound round patties
All recalled products have a USDA establishment number of EST 9748, which is located on the back panel of the package and-or in the USDA legend, the company said. The packages also contain a sell/best if used by date between Sept. 25, 2007 and Sept. 25, 2008.
 
Topps Meat Recall Delayed for Weeks by USDA, Despite Test that Confirmed E. Coli Contamination in Frozen Hamburgers

Date Published: Thursday, October 4th, 2007

Questions have arisen regarding the timing of the Topps Meat Company frozen ground beef recall. According to published reports, tests confirmed the presence of E. coli bacteria in a package of Topps frozen hamburgers as early as September 7. Yet, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) did not issue a recall order for Topps ground beef until September 25. Now, the USDA faces criticism over its slow response to the Topps E. coli outbreak, and the situation will likely do little to ease fears that the food safety system in the United States is badly broken.

Despite the fact that it is responsible for overseeing the safety of the US meat supply, the USDA was not the first governmental agency to alert consumers to the danger posed by E. coli contaminated Topps ground beef. Rather, it was the New York Department of Health that first published a safety alert on September 25 regarding Topps frozen meat. New York officials had been investigating 6 cases of E. coli poisoning in that state, and had confirmed the presence of E. coli in a package of Topps frozen hamburgers a day before it issued its alert. While the USDA did issue the Topps Meat Company recall a few hours later, it had tests that confirmed E. coli in some Topps meat weeks earlier.


The first case of E. coli poisoning linked to Topps ground beef was reported on July 5. At that time the USDA was unable to trace that illness to a definitive source. But by September 7, state investigators in Florida had linked a girl's E. coli poisoning to a package of frozen patties found in her family's freezer. Florida health officials forwarded that information to the USDA. But one case of E. coli poisoning tied to Topps meat was apparently not enough evidence for the USDA to issue a recall notice.

The USDA finally did recall Topps meat on September 25, following a meeting of its recall committee. At that time, more than 300,000 pounds of Topps frozen beef products were recalled. But the USDA recall notice mentioned nothing about the Florida E. coli incident. Rather, the USDA said that three cases in New York State tied to the frozen ground beef had sparked the recall

Despite the September 25 announcement, the recall wasn't over yet. A few days later, Topps recalled another 21.7 million pounds of tainted meat – making the Topps recall the third largest meat recall in US history. The recall was expanded after USDA inspectors checking on the Topps Meat Company plant in New Jersey discovered safety violations. Though it won't say what those violations were, the USDA did order Topps to suspend meat grinding operations at the facility until the company formulates a plan of corrective action. What is especially alarming about the safety violations found at the Topps Meat Company plant is that a USDA inspector had been present at the factory prior to the recall.

Since the Topps frozen ground beef recall was announced, health officials in 8 states have linked 28 E. coli cases to the tainted meat. The latest victim reported becoming ill on September 11. Now some are asking if any victims of this E. coli outbreak could have been spared if the USDA had warned consumers about the dangers posed by Topps Meat Company hamburger patties when they were first linked to E. coli in Florida.

Topps number one supplier was WALMART !!!! Could it be?
 
More Hamburger recalls ,Coast to Coast

Butcher's Best 100% All Beef Patties
Kohler Foods Flat Hamburger
Mike's Seasoned Beef Patties
Pathmark 100% All Beef Burgers
Rastelli's Fine Foods 100% Premium Beef Hamburger
Roma-Topps 100% Premium Hamburger
Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet Beef Burgers
Sand Casttle Fine Meat 100% Premium Beef Hamburger
Shop Rite 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers
Topps 100% Premium Hamburgers
Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers
Topps Sirloin Steak Burgers
Topps Hamburgers
West Side 100% Premium Hamburger
 
Link to FSIS and USDA conference late this evening; Hot time ,Hot Seat

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/10/0282.xml

You have to copy and paste into address bar

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/10/0282.xml

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/10/0282.xml
 
PORKER said:
Link to FSIS and USDA conference late this evening; Hot time ,Hot Seat

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/10/0282.xml

You have to copy and paste into address bar

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/10/0282.xml

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/10/0282.xml

These USDA guys should run for office-- all I see in the whole interview is stammering and stuttering and spinning-- don't seem to want to admit when they first became aware of it- altho it appears as tho the USDA system failed and it was caught by state agencies and the CDC- which finally forced USDA to actually do something after a long period of knowledge of a problem.... :roll: :( :mad:

The one thing very apparent from the interview-- you can have all the plans and programs and polices and whatevers-- but if you don't implement them, or give the inspectors the needed equipment, or follow up to see if they're being carried thru----they're worthless.....
These guys need a new A hole tore -- and then they should be kicking their lunch cans down the road.....
 
Associated Press, Sept 20, 2007
Straight to the Source


WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Thursday announced that Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is leaving the Cabinet to return to Nebraska, where he is expected to run for the U.S. Senate.

I think after looking at the recall timeline that Mike resigned was on that date as he knew something or had something to do with keeping TOPPS selling Nebraska or Midwest beef even though it had Ecoli. Just Wondering!
 
RobertMac said:
OT said:
...or give the inspectors the needed equipment...

That's the Achilles' heel of HACCP...inspectors need the power to enforce HACCP!

Yep-- and in that one line of questioning, which USDA's only answer was that "they are looking into it" :roll: gave the impression that the reporter was aware that the on site inspectors had no instruments or testing material to do the testing...

Just there as the TOKEN USDA dummy!!!!!!!! :( :( :mad: One thumb in their mouth and the other up their rear--and their most important task was to remember which thumb went where :wink: :lol:
 
Friday October 5, 11:35 am ET
Topps Meat Will Go Out of Business Following 2nd-Largest Beef Recall in U.S. History


ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) -- Topps Meat Co. LLC, the meat company responsible for the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history, said Friday it will close its plant in Elizabeth, N.J., and go out of business, effective immediately.


Topps on Sept. 25 began a recall of its frozen hamburger meat that was expanded to comprise 21.7 million pounds of the meat, which may be contaminated with E. coli after federal inspectors discovered inadequate safety measures at its plant.

Investigators think 30 people may have been sickened in Indiana and seven other states.

In a statement, Chief Operating Officer Anthony D'Urso said called the events "tragic."

"In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large," he said.

A "small number" of the 87 plant employees will remain at the plant to assist the U.S. Department of Agriculture with its investigation into the meat recall and handle administrative matters.

Topps Meat was founded in 1940.
 
The recall of more than 21 million pounds of meat has led Topps Meat Co. LLC to go out of business, effective immediately.

Topps, a 67-year old privately held company based in New Jersey, is controlled by Buffalo-based Strategic Investments & Holdings Inc.

The meat recall, the second-largest in history, involved frozen hamburger, which health officials said may be tainted with E. coli.
 
Topps bought their E.coli from someone!!!! Someone that is still selling trim!!! :mad: All cattlemen's organizations should keep the heat on to find the source.
 
RobertMac said:
Topps bought their E.coli from someone!!!! Someone that is still selling trim!!! :mad: All cattlemen's organizations should keep the heat on to find the source.

It'll happen again and again until the USDA slaps the packers.
 
Sandhusker said:
RobertMac said:
Topps bought their E.coli from someone!!!! Someone that is still selling trim!!! :mad: All cattlemen's organizations should keep the heat on to find the source.

It'll happen again and again until the USDA slaps the packers.

John Munsell and Montana Quality Foods and Processing all over again--except his was on a smaller scale-- but like Topps it eventually put him out of business, since USDA outright protects the big Corporates like ConAgra and throw the little business's to the wolves.....

In January 2002, Munsell was notified that a ground beef sample from his company, Montana Quality Foods and Processing Inc., had tested positive for E. coli contamination.

In the lawsuit filed last fall, Munsell claimed he told officials the contaminated beef had come to his business from a larger plant in Colorado. He contends his warnings were ignored and federal officials declined to trace the source. Later that year, ConAgra recalled about 19 million pounds of beef because of E. coli contamination at the Greeley, Colo. plant.
 
They better get started or turn the lights off when the last one leaves ,Johanns left, Waterfield Left, We need to send a bus so all of those that can't find a ride will have one out of town.
 

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