United Food Group Expands Voluntary Recall Of Ground Beef

Ground Beef Recall

United Food is expanding its recall to include fresh and frozen ground beef products produced at its plant from April 6 through April 20, an estimated 5.3 million pounds that may have been contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

Products included in the recall are fresh ground beef packaged in tubes (otherwise known as chubs), fresh tray packs and frozen hamburger patties. United Food Group emphasized today that the fresh ground beef the company produced from April 6 through April 20 is no longer available in stores. However, some of the ground beef affected by this recall could be stored in consumers' freezers for future use.

"This additional product recall is based on new information just shared with our company regarding the purchase date of fresh ground beef in Arizona suspected of being contaminated," said Todd Waldman, United Food Group's senior vice president.

"While all illnesses and findings have been limited to fresh ground beef purchased in a very short window of time, we have been unable to pinpoint the exact date and time of production because the code dating information on the packaging was no longer available from the consumer," Waldman said. "As a precautionary measure, we have chosen to voluntarily recall additional fresh and frozen ground beef products not previously recalled during this period. Our company's paramount concern is for the safety and health of consumers who have purchased our products, and that's why we believe this expanded recall is necessary to ensure that no one else is at risk."

The labels of the products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST. 1241" inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. All stores were notified to remove all product included in the recall. The recalled products were distributed in 11 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.