Cargill Meat Solutions Cargill Inc., the largest U.S. agricultural company has sparked more E. coli fears in the US with a recall of over 800,000 lbs of frozen ground beef patties.
The announcement follows that by Topps Meat Co., the second-largest supplier of hamburgers in the US, that it was being forced out of business after its own E. coli scandal.
The recall came after health officials in the state of Minnesota found a preliminary link between four cases of E. coli and Cargill products bought at local Sam's Club stores, a division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Concerns
Bill Rupp, president of Cargill Meat Solutions said on Saturday:"We are concerned that some consumers may still have the product sold at retail in their freezers.
"We and Sam's Club are urging customers to return or destroy any American Chef's Selection Angus Beef Patties purchased in any of their stores since August."
Rupp said the company learned of the situation shortly before noon on Friday. Based on information from officials in Minnesota and at the US Department of Agriculture, the company investigated further and expanded the scope beyond Minnesota.
Cargill said the hamburgers subject to the recall were produced on 9-10 and 15-17 August at its plant in Butler, Wisconsin.
Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 924A" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Cargill added that the extent of any contamination is unknown and that the undertaken recall was a "proactive and cautionary step".
October 8 2007
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