Over 28 Million Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled Since April

There have been 14 recalls and recall expansions of ground meat processed in the U.S. since April 2007. These recalls involve nine companies across the country and include over 28 million pounds of ground meat. They are all Class I or Health Risk High, which indicate a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. All recalls have occurred between April 20 and November 7. All are due to E. Coli contamination and include both commercial and retail products.

The CDC and many state agencies are working together in the investigations. These include the California Dept. of Health Services, the Colorado Dept. of Health, the New York State Department of Health, the Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The CDC reported there are currently 32 illnesses under investigation in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The recall in Cal. (United Food Group, LLC) involves several western states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) for meat and poultry handling information. Information 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.

Companies involved in the recalls include:

Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. -- Wyalusing, Pa.
[1,084,384 million pounds]

Del-Mar Provision Co., Inc. -- Buffalo, N.Y.
[no number given]

Blue Ribbon Meats -- Hialeah, Fla.
[8,200 pounds]

Arko Veal Co. -- Forest Park, Ga.
[1,900 pounds]

J & B Meats Corporation Inc. -- Coal Valley, Ill.
[173,554 pounds]

Topps Meat Company, LLC -- Elizabeth, N.J.
[21.7 million lbs]

United Food Group, LLC -- Vernon, Calif
[5.7 million pounds]

Richwood Meat Co, Inc. -- Merced, Calif.
[107,943 pounds]

HFX, Inc. -- South Claysburg, Penn.
[4,884 pounds]