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| Colorado Firm Recalls
Bison Products Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination |
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| Recall Release |
CLASS I RECALL |
| FSIS-RC-043-2010 |
HEALTH RISK:
HIGH |
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Atiya Khan
| Editor's Note: This recall release is being reissued
to revise the July 2 recall to include approximately 776 additional pounds of bison products
that were distributed to a firm in Nevada for further processing.
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WASHINGTON, July 7, 2010 - Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, a Henderson, Colo. establishment,
is recalling approximately 66,776 pounds of ground and tenderized steak bison products that may be contaminated
with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) announced today.
FSIS became aware of the problem during the course of an on-going investigation into a cluster of E. coli
O157:H7 illnesses in Colorado with illness onset dates between June 4, 2010 and June 9, 2010. Working in
conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration,
the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the New York Department of Health,
5 case-patients have been identified in Colorado as well as 1 case-patient in New York with an indistinguishable
PFGE pattern. FSIS determined that there is an association between the ground bison products and the cluster
of illnesses in the state of Colorado. FSIS is continuing to work with the CDC, affected state public health
partners, and the company on the investigation. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should
contact a health care provider.
The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]
- 16-ounce packages of "GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL GROUND BISON." These products have a "sell or freeze by" date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of "NATURE'S RANCHER GROUND BUFFALO." These products have a "sell or freeze by" date of June 22, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of "THE BUFFALO GUYS ALL NATURAL GROUND BUFFALO 90% LEAN." These products have a lot number of 0147.
- 12-ounce packages of "GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON STEAK MEDALLIONS." These products have a "sell or freeze by" date of June 23 and June 24, 2010.
- 12-ounce packages of "GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON SIRLOIN STEAKS." These products have a "sell or freeze by" date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010.
- 15-pound boxes of "ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURAL MEATS, INC. BISON 10 OZ SIRLOIN STEAK." These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.
- Various weight boxes of "BISON B TRIM." These products bear a production date of May 21, 2010 and a Julian Code of 14110. The boxes also state "KEEP REFRIGERATED."
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST. 20247" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
These products were produced between the dates of May 21, 2010 through May 27, 2010, and were distributed to
retail establishments nationwide, food service distributors in Utah and Arizona, and a firm in Nevada for
further processing. While the sell-by dates for these products have passed, FSIS and the establishment
are aware that consumers may also freeze the product before use and there is concern that some product
may still be frozen and in consumers' freezers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be
posted on FSIS' Website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in
the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the
most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers (including
restaurants) of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to
consumers.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume
ground bison that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to be sure ground bison is cooked
to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer to measure the internal
temperature.
Media and consumer questions regarding the recall should be directed to the company's spokesperson, Chuck Sanger
at (800) 325-4164.
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS
virtual representative available 24 hours a day at
www.AskKaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat
services are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. The
toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline
(1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be
reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through
Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a
day. |
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Last Modified:
March 1, 2011 |
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| USDA
Recall Classifications |
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Class I |
This
is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability
that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences
or death. |
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Class II |
This
is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of
adverse health consequences from the use of the product. |
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Class III |
This
is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse
health consequences. |
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