Nebraska Beef Recalls 531,707 Pounds of Meat

Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled 531,707 pounds of ground beef components – beef and beef trimmings that are used to produce ground beef at specified fat levels. The Omaha company was identified as the source of contaminated ground beef sold by Kroger.

This investigation began as the result of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Michigan and Northern Ohio. That outbreak was traced to ground beef purchased in Kroger supermarkets in those two neighboring states. Kroger recalled the implicated ground beef on June 25th, after the outbreak strain was isolated from a package of meat that had been purchased by an outbreak victim.

This outbreak might extend well beyond the borders of Michigan and Ohio. According to the USDA/FSIS recall announcement, FSIS detected the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in samples taken from two federally inspected establishments that had purchased meat from Nebraska Beef.

The recall notice does not name those establishments. But a review of recent FSIS news releases might offer some clues. On May 22nd, FSIS alerted consumers to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination of 808 pounds of ground beef produced by Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. of Lexington, NE. And on June 8th, Dutch Meats, Inc. of Trenton, NJ recalled more than 13,000 pounds of ground beef due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

FSIS has not said whether the E. coli O157:H7 isolates that triggered these earlier recalls – both of which fall into the same time frame as the Ohio/Michigan outbreak – are related genetically to the outbreak strain. Even if these recalls are linked to the current investigation, there is still much more to come. Together, the Tyson and Dutch Meat recalls represent less than 3% of the more than 530,000 pounds of meat recalled last night by Nebraska Beef.

There has been at least one unexplained E. coli outbreak recently. Twenty children attending the Wonder World Preschool in Slayton, MN became ill between mid-May and early June. Twelve of the children were confirmed to have been infected with E. coli. And there might be other incidents that escaped media attention.

Let's hope that CDC will find the time to review its backlog of PulseNet reports on E. coli O157:H7 isolates to determine whether any of them are a genetic match to the Ohio/Michigan outbreak strain. I would not be surprised to learn that the outbreak is more extensive than previously reported – and that the distribution pattern of the Nebraska Beef products matches the geography of the outbreak.

Where's The (Contaminated) Beef?

The CDC, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) all posted update reports on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak investigation today.

According to CDC's consolidated report, 35 cases have been confirmed in this outbreak as of June 27th – 17 in Michigan and 18 in Ohio. Nineteen of the victims have been hospitalized.

ODH reports that it is investigating an additional 5 possible cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses to determine whether any of them are related to this outbreak. Michigan advises that, as of noon today, it has confirmed a total of 20 outbreak cases. Twelve of those patients required hospitalization.

Michigan also reports that "over half" of the confirmed cases in that state either prepared or consumed hamburger meat purchased from Kroger. This begs the question of how the remaining victims became infected with the outbreak strain. Were they the recipients of secondary infection, perhaps as a result of caring for one of the primary victims? Or was meat contaminated by the outbreak strain also sold elsewhere than in Kroger supermarkets?

Since the initial recall announcement on June 25th, neither Kroger nor USDA has released any information on the source of the contaminated meat that was sold in Kroger stores in Michigan and Northern Ohio. Unless Kroger's record-keeping is seriously defective, it shouldn't take very long to identify its meat supplier.

Is Kroger's supplier dragging its feet on a possible recall?

Ground Beef Outbreak Update

Both Ohio and Michigan have posted updated information on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has affected both states and led to the recall last week of ground beef by The Kroger Company. Neither the company nor USDA has yet revealed the source of the beef sold in the Kroger supermarkets in Michigan and Northern Ohio.

Michigan reports that, as of June 27th, 17 residents of the state have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. Ohio has confirmed 18 cases of E. coli O157:H7, and is investigating an additional four cases. According to the CDC's most recent update, posted on June 26th, 17 people have been hospitalized in Ohio and Michigan as a result of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, including one who experienced kidney failure.

A lawsuit has already been filed on behalf of one of the Ohio outbreak victims. According to Bill Marler, his client purchased ground beef from Kroger's on June 4th, and cooked and consumed it that same day. She began to feel ill on June 8th, was hospitalized on June 10th, and released on June 12th. While in hospital, she tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.

This outbreak is a reminder to always handle raw meat and poultry with care, and to cook meat thoroughly. Hamburgers and other ground meat dishes should be cooked until the internal temperature has reached at least 160ºF throughout. For information on how to safely navigate the summer barbecue season, read the USDA Fact Sheet, Barbecue and Food Safety.

Tomatoes and Ground Beef: Another Update

CDC has published further updates to the case totals for both the Salmonella Saintpaul and the E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that are currently under investigation.

Salmonella Outbreak

As of 9pm yesterday evening, federal and state health agencies have confirmed a total of 756 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul infection linked to contaminated tomatoes. Ninety-five people have been hospitalized.

Texas is the hardest-hit state, with 330 cases; New Mexico is next, with 80. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have each reported at least one lab-confirmed infection with the outbreak strain.

E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak

The number of victims of the contaminated ground beef – recalled yesterday evening by Kroger – has risen to 33. Sixteen of the lab-confirmed cases were reported by Michigan; 17 are from Ohio. Seventeen of the patients have been hospitalized, one with kidney failure – a common manifestation of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Ground Beef Update: June 26th

CDC posted an update yesterday evening on the federal and state investigations of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Ohio and Michigan. According to CDC's most current information, there have been 32 lab-confirmed victims so far – 17 in Ohio and 15 in Michigan. All of the victims fell ill between May 30th and June 11th.

Fourteen people have been hospitalized so far – one with kidney failure associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome. No one has died.

The source of the outbreak has been traced to ground beef sold in Kroger supermarkets in Michigan and some parts of Ohio. Yesterday evening, Kroger announced a voluntary recall of the contaminated ground beef. The company is cooperating with USDA officials in their trace-back investigation.

More Breaking News: Kroger's Recalls Ground Beef

In reaction to the confirmed detection of the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in a sample of ground beef sold by a Kroger store in Ohio, The Kroger Company has just announced a voluntary recall of "...all ground beef products that were sold between May 21 and June 8, 2008 at its stores throughout Michigan and in central and northern Ohio (Columbus and Toledo areas)."

In its press release, Kroger requests customers to check their freezers and to return unused ground beef to the store for a refund or replacement. None of the suspect ground beef is available for purchase at Kroger stores at this time.

The company is cooperating with USDA efforts to trace back the source of the contaminated meat. Customers with questions about the recall can contact Kroger toll-free at (800) 632-6900.

Breaking News: E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Update

The Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Agriculture jointly announced today that the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 has been identified in a sample of ground beef provided to state investigators by one of the outbreak victims. The sample had been purchased at the Kroger Marketplace in Gahanna, Ohio.

USDA is conducting a trace-back investigation to determine the source of the contaminated ground meat. Kroger's is cooperating with the government efforts.

Ohio is continuing its investigation into 19 cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that are linked to the contaminated ground beef and also are linked to 15 cases in Michigan. According to CDC, all of the victims became infected in late May and early June.

If you have eaten cooked ground meat and have experienced any symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection, please contact your health care professional and your local public health office. This outbreak may extend beyond the states of Ohio and Michigan.

E. coli O157:H7 Found In Ohio Ground Beef Sample

Health officials in Ohio and Michigan, along with representatives of USDA and CDC, continue to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened at least 15 people in Michigan and 19 in Ohio. Ten of the 15 Michigan victims have been hospitalized. The identical strain of E. coli O157:H7 is responsible for the illnesses in both states.

The Michigan Department of Community Health reported yesterday that more than half of the patients in that state purchased and consumed ground beef from Kroger Food Stores. Officials are continuing their interviews and trace-back activities. Until the investigation is complete, they caution that meat from other retail outlets might also be implicated in the outbreak.

Meanwhile, Ohio reported that it has isolated E. coli O157:H7 from a ground beef sample obtained from one of that state's outbreak victims. Further tests are underway to determine whether the isolate is genetically identical to the outbreak strain.

According to CDC, which has finally posted a progress report on this investigation, all of the victims became ill in late May and early June. Fourteen have been hospitalized so far – one with symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The victims are between 9 and 78 years old, and just over one-half are female.

Attorney and blogger Bill Marler reported this morning that he has been contacted by E. coli O157:H7 victims in other states who, he suspects, might be part of a broader outbreak. So far, CDC is silent on the prospect that this same outbreak strain might be present elsewhere in the country's meat supply. Let's hope that CDC and USDA investigators are doing some data back-checking.

E. coli O157:H7 Rears Its Ugly Head

As if the health authorities in Michigan and Ohio didn't have enough on their plates, these states are also wrestling with an as-yet-unexplained outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses.

As of the 18th, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) had received reports of 29 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infections for the month of June. Ohio is investigating 16 cases, at least 10 of which are linked by genetic fingerprint to each other, and to the Michigan cases.

CDC, which has its hands full with the nationwide Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, is assisting Michigan and Ohio in their investigations. While the source of the E. coli O157:H7 hasn't yet been identified, suspicion is falling on contaminated ground beef.

According to an article in the Detroit Free Press, a spokesman for MDCH has suggested a possible link between the illnesses and the recall on June 8th of more than 13,000 pounds of ground beef by Dutch Meats, Inc. of Trenton, NJ. But the meat covered by that recall supposedly was distributed only to restaurants and food service institutions in and around Trenton.

We don't yet know whether consumers in any states neighboring Ohio and Michigan have suffered an infection with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7, nor do we know how close investigators are to identifying the source of the contamination. Are Michigan investigators just speculating on a link between the Dutch Meat recall and the current outbreak, or have they matched the microbes genetically?

And how did meat that was only distributed in New Jersey sicken at least 29 people in Michigan and 10 or more in Ohio? Or does Dutch Meat's contamination extend beyond the 13,000 pounds that were recalled earlier this month?