5.1M more pounds of possibly tainted beef recalled from Phoenix-area plant
Dec 4, 2018, 8:35 AM | Updated: Dec 5, 2018, 9:39 am
(AP File Photo)
(AP File Photo)
PHOENIX — Problems are continuing to plague a meat processing plant in metro Phoenix.
Exactly two months after supplier JBS Tolleson in Tolleson issued a recall of more than 6.5 million pounds of raw beef due to possible salmonella contamination, the company announced that it has expanded the recall to include another 5.1 million pounds of meat.
That means more than 12 million pounds of raw beef products from the plant have been recalled as of Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced in a press release.
The beef items, including ground beef, were packaged between July 26 and Sept. 7 and were sold under names including Kroger, Cedar River Farms Natural, Gourmet Burger and Showcase.
Some of the products may be frozen. The products subject to recall have the establishment number “EST. 267” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
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The tainted beef has sickened 246 people in 26 states, officials said.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health officials are investigating the outbreak and illnesses associated with it.
Bashas’ Supermarkets said its stores were not impacted by the recall.
To avoid contracting the illness, health officials encouraged consumers to throw out meat that they think could be contaminated or return it to the place of purchase.
Consumers can also protect themselves from getting sick in the future by cooking raw meat to a safe internal temperature using a food thermometer and washing their hands after handling raw meat.
The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product.
The majority of people recover from salmonella without treatment but they could be sick for as long as a week.
Older adults, infants and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness.
During the spring, lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona was identified as the source of an E. coli outbreak that reached 11 states. Five people died.
