Ground Beef Recalled over E. coli, Foreign Materials

WASHINGTONUSDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced two separate recalls of ground beef products over concerns the meat may be contaminated with E. coli and some products may contain pieces of plastic.

National Beef Packing Co. LLC, a Dodge City, Kan., firm, recalled more than 60,000 pounds of ground beef products last week because they may be contaminated with E. coli. The affected products were produced July 23 and July 25 and shipped to distributors nationwide for processing or delivery under different brand names. Winn-Dixie Stores, Publix Super Markets and Kroger Co. are the only grocery chains to have taken the possible contaminated meat off their shelves.

In a separate Aug. 19 recall, North Carolina-based Vantage Foods recalled approximately 1,642 pounds of ground beef products that may contain pieces of plastic.

The recall involves 2-pound trays of LOWES FOODS fresh ground beef 93/7with establishment number "EST. 34176" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a sell by date of 8/29/11 on the label. The products were produced Aug. 15 and distributed to retail outlets in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.