Washington company recalls beef trim over possible E. coli contamination

Jan 29, 2015

Over 1000 lbs being recalled

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Agency (FSIS) announced a recall of 1,620 pounds of boneless beef trimmings from Washington Beef out of Toppenish, Washington.

The products are being recalled because of a possible contamination of the products with E. coli 0157:H7.

The 60lb bulk bags of “TRIM 65/35 (FZN)” will feature “EST. 235” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

This is being considered as a Class I, high health risk recall because “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

E. coli is a possibly deadly bacteria that can cause such symptoms as bloody diarrhea, dehydration and abdominal cramps. If contracted, some people could develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure caused by the “premature destruction of the red blood cells,” as described by the Mayo Clinic.

HUS symptoms can include easy bruising, decrease urination or blood in the urine, swelling and confusion. Children under five years of age and older adults are most commonly affected by HUS.

The products in question were shipped for use in hotels, restaurants and other institutions in Oregon and Washington.

FSIS recommends cooking any meat products including fresh or frozen to an internal temperature of 160°F and that colour is not a reliable indicator that the meat is cooked enough to kill harmful bacteria.

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