In a news release Tuesday, the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC. has recalled about 360 pounds of ground beef products that may be tainted by E. coli 0175:NM.
Subject to recall are 36 10lb bags of McNees Ground Beef Bulk, which comes in clear plastic bags. The establishment number EST 33971 appears withing the USDA mark of inspection on each bag. The affected bags were produced on July 15 and 21, 2011 and were sold to Michigan restaurants and through a McNees-owned retail establishment.
An August 4, 2011, FSIS was made aware of an investigation into E. coli 0157:NM based on three case-patients in Michigan with illness onset dates between July 18 and 28, 2011. Investigation results lead FSIS to determine a link between the ground beef products and the Michigan illnesses.
E. coli 0157:NM infection is potentially fatal and can lead to bloody diarrhea, dehydration and in severe cases kidney failure. Those most at risk of infection are the elderly, children and people with compromised immune systems.
I hope that no one else has been sickened as a result of consuming the possibly tainted ground beef products. Although these cases happened in Michigan, as a Fresno personal injury attorney, I know that foodborne illness can occur anywhere, and I encourage consumers to practice safe food handling habits and to say abreast of food recall news.